Yellowjackets field hockey dominated the Hartwick College Hawks on Saturday, winning by a score of 4-1.
Senior Revay Wilson scored the first goal 17 minutes into the game, her third of the year, assisted by freshman Lara Bucarey. Three minutes later, at 20:00, Rochester put another point on the board, with senior Krista Butler stepping up to score her third goal of the season, assisted by Wilson.
Hartwick, on a desperate attempt to get back into the game, scored their only goal at 21:23, making it 2-1.
Senior Mary Dimatteo put distance back between the two teams, netting her third shot of the season unassisted. Junior Kari Plewniak sent the fourth and final goal into the cage off of a penalty corner pass from senior Celinda Fletcher. Plewniak is now the top scorer on the team with four goals over the course of the season.
“Kari has been playing exceptionally well. When she pushes up the right side our attack is better,” coach Michelle Andre said. “We also have her on the goalie’s pads during the initial corner shot and she is getting a ton of tips. It’s creating a lot of scoring opportunities for us.”
Rochester outshot Hartwick 18-9 and had a 17-4 advantage on penalty corners. In goal, junior Rachel Cahan had four saves.
“Everyone came out onto the field and had an ‘on’ day,” sophomore Erica Gelb said. “Our team is so talented that when we play the way we did on Saturday, the way we’re capable, we are extremely hard to touch”
On Wednesday the Yellowjackets were shutout by the William Smith College Herons, 2-0.
Cahan made 12 saves. UR was outshot 21-8 by William Smith. William Smith had 14 penalty corners over Rochester’s six.
After going 1-1 this past week, field hockey now has an overall record of 5-4 and are 1-2 in Liberty League play.
“We’ve had some very productive practices and the William Smith game was a well played game for us,” coach Andre said. “We made a commitment for everyone to keep pushing forward. That’s what we did and it all came together on Saturday.”
Is field hockey ready to move up to the next level? That will be determined for the Yellowjackets after this weekend’s Liberty League road trip.
According to coach Andre, this team is primed to take on their league opponents.
“We are prepared for this road trip,” she said. “Playing on the road in our league is tough. But we have the physical and mental experience on our side. I am looking forward to it.”
“We know what we need to do this weekend. It’s just a matter of focusing and getting it done,” Plewniak said. “We’ve really stepped up our level of play, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us in the second half of the season.”
They play Vassar College Friday at 4 p.m. and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Saturday at 1 p.m. These two games could potentially make or break the entire season as far as the Liberty League is concerned – with only two more league matches remaining after this weekend.
Then, on Tuesday, UR takes on SUNY Geneseo for a 4 p.m. away game.
To see more photos from the game go here http://www.campustimes.org/fh0930
Levy can be reached at jlevy@campustimes.org
