PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – The University of Rochester field hockey team earned a 2-0 victory over Hartwick College on Friday afternoon at Edwin Fauver Stadium, remaining unbeaten on the season with a 3-0 record.
Rochester's goals were scored by
Kristina Fedorova and
Erin Foley, with both notching their first goals of the season. Defensively, goalkeeper
Katherine Jensen made four saves, while senior
Cassidy Romano added a defensive save in the second half to preserve the shutout.
The Yellowjackets started quick, earning an early penalty corner in the opening minute, but the Hawks (1-2) fended that opportunity off without surrendering a shot.
In the fourth minute, both
Grayson Honig and
Sophia Marcotte fired shots on frame, but Hartwick goalkeeper Ava Reynolds made a pair of saves.
Hartwick's first shot on goal was an open look along the right side by Lexi Cheeseman near the 7-minute mark, but Jensen had a clear look and made the easy kick save. Less than 20 seconds later, a one-timer chance at the goal mouth by Makayla Bales was turned away by Jensen.
After the Hawks got back-to-back corners in the 11th minute, but had a pair of shots blocked by the defense, it was all URochester the rest of the opening quarter. The Yellowjackets earned five corners over the final four minutes of the quarter, but were kept off the scoreboard by the Hawk defense and Reynolds in goal.
Late in the opening quarter, Foley had a terrific chance in the circle after a pair of excellent passes up the field from Romano and Honig, but the junior's one-timer from about 10 yards off the line was stopped by Reynolds who was charging hard off her endline.
Early in the second, a 50-yard pass up the field by Hartwick's Molly Schoenfeldt found the stick of Cheeseman for an open look in the circle, but again Jensen came up with a point blank save to keep the game scoreless.
The ensuing corner yielded a high shot by Schoenfeldt, but Jensen stood tall and corralled that ball as well, with a rebound attempt being swept wide of the cage.
Five minutes after halftime, Hartwick's Makayla Bales nearly had a goal after a penalty corner, but her attempt two yards off the line was stopped at the right post by Romano for a defensive save, continuing the scoreless contest.
UR finally broke through in the final seconds of the third, with Fedorova one-timing in a cross pass from Honig. The play started with Honig running up the midfield 20 yards towards the Hartwick endline. She sent the cross towards the net where Foley had set up a screen, with the ball eventually trickling through to Fedorova who had a wide-open 3-yard tap-in.
The lead doubled in the 49th minute with Foley recording her tally on a penalty corner setup.
Lucy Pentzer inserted to Cuneo at the top of the circle. She swung the ball left to Romano who had a sweep shot towards the net that was perfectly redirected by Foley into the cage.
As the clocked ticked down, the Yellowjackets fended off three corners by the Hawks, but did not give up any shots in the final period to hold on for the win.
Overall in the game, the Yellowjackets held a 29-9 advantage in shots and led 15-8 in penalty corners.
Up next, URochester takes to the road and will play at Bryn Mawr College at noon on Sunday.
