ROCHESTER, NY (October 12, 2015) – Junior Michelle Relin scored the eventual game-winner for the Yellowjackets of University of Rochester midway through the second half, as the Vassar College field hockey team fell on the road 1-0 in Liberty League action Monday evening.

The game was tightly contested the entire night, but the lone goal came for Rochester (10-3,2-1 Liberty League) in the 43^rd minute on a strong individual effort from the Yellowjacket forward. Relin picked up the ball at midfield and carried it down the entire right side, eventually tucking her shot into the net for the only score of the game.

Vassar (9-3, 2-1 Liberty League) nearly tied the match in the 47^th minute, as sophomore Storm Sideleau (Contoocook, NH/Kimball Union Academy) spun away from a defender in the middle, and unleashed a shot that was saved by the left foot of Rochester keeper Tara Lamberti.

The Brewers had another close call 51:10 into the game, after freshman Megan Caveny (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) shoveled the ball into the circle for Lauren Shumate (Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy). Shumate fired, but the shot was blocked and the Yellowjackets cleared the subsequent corner. Caveny almost scored moments later as well, but Lamberti made a diving save to keep her team up 1-0.

Vassar kept the pressure on Rochester over the next few minutes, with Caveny producing two good scoring chances, but neither would find the goal as her last attempt with 13 minutes to play went just wide right.

The one goal proved to be enough for the Yellowjackets though, as Lamberti and the defense in front of her denied the final one of Vassar's 10 penalty corners as time expired. The Brewers outshot their hosts on the evening 10-9, and held a slight 10-6 edge in corners as well. Vassar net minder Paige Amico (Carlsbad, CA/La Costa Canyon) made three stops, while Lamberti stopped seven shots on the evening. The loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Brewers, as Vassar moved to 3-3 on the road this season. 

The first half saw both teams have solid chances, though the game was played for the most part within the midfield. Vassar had a quick shot on a counter attack 5:40 into the game, but Bianca Zarrella's (Leominster, MA/Leominster) attempt was thwarted by Lamberti.

Just over 10 minutes later, Zarrella had another strong chance during a penalty corner, but the UR keeper again denied her sweep shot. Rochester had its best opportunity of the first half on a penalty corner, but a lunging Shumate knocked down a Relin attempt.

Moments after the defensive effort from Shumate, the Brewers had a fast break up the field and nearly made the score 1-0. On the play, VC brought the ball up the left side, and a cross to junior Hayley Beach (Latham, NY/Shaker) just eluded her stick as she had the entire right side of the cage exposed. VC outshot its hosts 4-3 in the opening stanza, putting three of the four attempts on net.

The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Brewers, as Vassar heads to Saratoga Springs, NY Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. to battle No. 10 Skidmore College in conference play.