Field hockey victorious

The 3-2 pattern was out of control as Rochester lost by a score of 3-2 to Utica College, defeated Elmira College 3-2 and improved to a 3-2 overall record after the games on Sunday and Tuesday. Rochester’s game against Utica College totaled 94:29 in an intense battle for the win. The Lady Pioneers scored the only goal of the first half 21 minutes into the game and continued to hold Rochester scoreless until sophomore Heidi Davies tied the score at 1-1, unassisted, off of a penalty corner in the second half. With 14:54 remaining, Utica responded with their second goal of the game and the score stood 2-1 in their favor. The situation was starting to look bleak for the Yellowjackets until sophomore Krista Butler slapped one into the net off of a penalty corner. Butler added her own personal touch to the goal, however, by scoring with absolutely no time remaining on the clock.”We kept going at them – we never gave up,” Butler said. “We were really confident going into overtime,” freshman goalie Rachel Cahan said. Cahan, who totaled three saves in the 70 minutes of regular play, had a tremendous game and foiled all attempts by the Lady Pioneers to capitalize on their breakaways. Offensively, UR had 11 shots on goal and Utica had five before entering sudden-death overtime.The teams remained evenly matched after the first round of overtime play, with each team attempting to score twice during the 15 minutes. In the second round, Utica held Rochester to zero shots on goal and finally netted one with 5:31 remaining. Sophomores Celinda Fletcher and Heidi Davies and freshman Kari Plewniak led the Yellowjackets in shots on goal throughout the game.Despite the loss, the team remains positive about the rest of their season. “Ultimately, we proved to ourselves that we are able to beat any team in our league,” sophomore captain Mary DiMatteo said. Her words proved to be prophetic two days later as the Yellowjackets defeated the Soaring Eagles in single overtime. Plewniak, Fletcher and senior captain Erin Charnow contributed one goal each in the team’s victory. Cahan made six saves over more than 74 minutes of play, as Rochester outshot Elmira College 15 attempts to 11.UR will face Hamilton College at home on Sept. 24 and St. Lawrence University – also at home – on Sept. 25.Anderson can be reached at janderson@campustimes.org.