CLINTON, NY – The 5th-ranked Hamilton College field hockey team scored two goals three minutes apart in the middle of the game to earn a 2-0 win over the University of Rochester on Tuesday evening at Goodfriend Field.
The loss drops URochester to 8-5 on the season, while Hamilton improves to 10-2 with the victory.
Despite getting outshot 4-0 in the opening quarter, the Yellowjackets had the better run of play for most of the period. Hamilton's tough defense thwarted the 'Jacket attackers once they entered the circle, but UR responded with strong midfield play to regain possession and continue their offense.
In the opening minute of the second quarter, the Yellowjackets got their first penalty corner of the game, with
Sophia Cuneo inserting to
Hannah Mehta. The UR junior got a shot off, but it was blocked away by the Continentals.
Four minutes later, Cuneo had another shot blocked, leading to another 'Jacket corner. On the corner, Mehta had a shot slip past the Hamilton keeper, but was cleared off the line by Isabelle Nahon. On a follow-up attempt, a foul occurred at the goal line, with the referee awarding a penalty stroke in favor of Rochester.
On the stroke attempt,
Erin Foley was called upon to take the shot, but her attempt towards the center of the goal was kicked away by Hamilton keeper Kelly Janssen, keeping the game scoreless.
With under 40 seconds left in the opening half, Hamilton was able to break through with Brighton McMahon scoring the games first goal. McMahon received a long pass up the field and then out ran the 'Jacket defense in the circle.
After getting UR keeper
Riley Leeser to come off her line and attempt a diving stop, McMahon juked around and slipped a backhand shot into the cage for the 1-0 lead.
Hamilton's lead doubled on its first shot attempt after, coming just under three minutes into the third quarter.
A corner play saw Eleanor Cooper insert to Nahon at the top of the circle. Nahon took a sweep attempt that was blocked in front of the goal, but deflected right to McMahon who was waiting at the left post for the tap-in goal.
Now down by two, UR turned on the pressure, getting several shots off in the 35th minute. Foley had one on frame to start the flurry.
Following a corner,
Grayson Honig's attempt at the top of the circle was blocked, with a follow-up in front by
Cassidy Romano getting kicked away by Janssen.
Mehta was then denied again on a defensive save, this one by Morgan Clarke, on a hard backhand blast from the left wing along the edge of the circle.
UR continued to maintain most of the possession throughout the rest of the third, earning two more corners and three shot attempts, but were unable to break through.
Early in the fourth, Foley had a good look at a goal following several passes on a penalty corner, but the junior's right wing attempt bounced wide left of the goal.
The 'Jackets kept the offense going throughout the rest of the period, but Hamilton's defense and Janssen in goal were able to keep the visitors off the scoreboard.
Overall in the game, UR led in shots 16 to 11 and corners, seven to six. In between the pipes, Leeser made four saves for Rochester, while Janssen ended with five stops for the Continentals.
URochester returns home for its next matchup, that being a Liberty League showdown with Ithaca College on Friday at 4 pm.
