UR field hockey is off to its best start in team history after extending its season-opening winning streak with a pair of victories this past weekend. This was due in part to the strong play of junior Michelle Relin, who became Rochester’s all-time point leader during the ’Jackets’ 6-1 victory over St. Lawrence University on Friday, Sept. 26 at Fauver Stadium.
Relin’s two goals and three assists on Friday put her career point tally at 116, breaking the old record which had stood for almost 30 years. And with the rest of this year’s season and all of her senior year in front of her, there is no doubt her totals will only continue to go up.
Senior captain Megan Keil also had a big day against St. Lawrence, recording a goal and two assists to tie her career high for points in a game. Also scoring were freshmen Claire Dickerson and Olivia Denny, the former scoring twice and the latter putting in her first career goal in what was an all-around successful day for the home team.
While there was no shortage of offense for Relin and the ’Jackets on Friday, the following day’s matchup against Skidmore College proved to be a different story.
Coming off a win against 17th-ranked William Smith, the visiting Thoroughbreds gave UR all they could handle, playing to a scoreless tie through 70 minutes of regulation time. In overtime, however, the ’Jackets got all the offense they needed from senior Gina Cunningham, who knocked in the only goal of the game 2:37 into the sudden death extra period.
Despite the differences in the two games, both ended with wins for junior goalie Tara Lamberti, who has been impressive in her first season as the starter. In 632 minutes this season, the junior has only given up nine goals, averaging just one goal per game while also recording three shutouts. With her presence in the net, along with the team’s grit and determination, it is no surprise that things appear to be clicking for UR.
A win this Wednesday gives Rochester an 11-0 record, including a perfect 3-0 mark in Liberty League play, which will be crucial for determining seeds in the postseason conference tournament. The strong start is not completely new for UR, though, as the 2012 squad also began their season well, going 8-0 before ultimately reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.
As big an accomplishment as the 2012 season was for the ’Jackets, this year’s team will likely be unsatisfied with just another trip to the national quarterfinals, instead setting their sights on a few more wins come playoff time. For a team like UR, big talent brings on big expectations, and really, considering the way they have been playing this season, who can blame them?
Shapiro is a member of the class of 2015.
Chi Huang, Contributing Photographer
