Highlights

TROY, NY – Senior Olivia Denny scored a tap in goal off a penalty corner with just over five minutes to play to lift the No. 17 University of Rochester field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Saturday evening at Harkness Field.
 
With the win, the Yellowjackets move to 8-3 overall and 3-0 in the conference.  RPI meanwhile, drops to 1-10 on the year and 0-3 in the Liberty League.
 
A backhand shot from Rochester sophomore Maya Haigis opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Classmate Colleen Maillie drove the ball 40 yards up the right sideline, before sending a cross to Haigis in the circle, who struck a hard backhand into the net for a 1-0 Yellowjacket lead. 
 
At 22:05, Maillie nearly netted a goal of her own off a corner, but her shot from the top of the circle was swiped away by RPI defender Mac Reininger.
 
The Engineers then tied the game up on their first shot of the contest at 24:17. Taylor Clink blasted a hard shot off a penalty corner from Megan Jones to the left side of the cage, beating UR starting keeper Kiran Sundaram and tying the score at 1-1.
 
Five minutes later, RPI had another opportunity when Sundaram stepped on the ball in the circle, slipped and allowed an open net, but RPI's Charisse Stakutis couldn't get her two shots around the downed UR keeper for the go-ahead goal.
 
The Yellowjackets had a chance in the 49th minute from Claire Dickerson. Maillie started the play with a long hit in, Dickerson dribbled in close on the left side of the net, but keeper Rachel Kaufman made a tremendous diving save to deny UR's leading scorer and keep the game tied.
 
Rochester had two more scoring threats in the 61st minute when Maillie and Dunham had shots off a PC, one which was stopped by Kaufman and the other which was a defensive save by Lauren Hiltz.
 
UR was able to break through for a go-ahead goal at 64:44 when Denny found Maillie at the top of the circle. Maillie's shot was perfectly placed on the stick of Denny who was left all alone at the left post for a tap-in goal.
 
Over the final five minutes, the Engineers stepped up the pressure though, with Mikaela DiBello recording a shot from six yards out in the center of the circle, only to see it saved away by relief goalie Gabrielle Cantley. The ensuing corner saw an RPI shot get deflected high and wide.
 
RPI earned a final penalty corner as time was expiring, but Jones' shot at the near post, similar to UR's second goal was sent wide of the cage.
 
Overall, Kaufman made nine saves in the loss. Both Cantley and Sundaram made one stop each for the Yellowjackets.
 
The Engineers are back in action on Friday, when they visit St. Lawrence (1pm). Rochester plays Houghton at home on Tuesday (7pm).