The University of Mary Washington field hockey team opened the 2017 season on Saturday at the University of Rochester, and fell to the 14th ranked hosts by a 1-0 margin.
Senior Claire Dickerson scored the only goal of the game in the 52nd minute, slipping a ball from straight on six yards out past UMW keeper Jessica Cavolt on the low left side for the game-winner. It was Dickerson's third goal in the opening two games as she scored twice in Rochester's season opening victory over Nazareth on Friday. Nancy Bansbach picked up an assist on the play, chipping her pass through the Eagle defense, into the circle where Dickerson was waiting.
In goal for the Eagles, Cavolt made four saves, while Rochester's Kiran Sundaram did not have to make a save in picking up her second straight shutout.
The Eagles were limited to four shots, all of which were either blocked or were sent wide.
Rochester was able to generate the first scoring chance of the contest, earning a penalty corner in the opening 90 seconds. Olivia Denny would take a shot after getting the ball back after her initial pass, only to see her attempt at the left post blocked away.
Four minutes later, Mary Washington's Lauren Hopkins had her shot off a penalty corner blocked, with the ensuing scramble swept away by the 'Jacket defense.
In the final minute of the first half, UR sophomore Maya Haigis had two back-to-back shot attempts off a penalty corner, with one getting saved by Cavolt while the other was blocked by the defense.
Mary Washington's Jackie Smith kept the score 0-0 in the 38th minute with a nice play on the goal line, sweeping a Denny shot off the line for a defensive save. On the next penalty corner less than a minute later, Haigis took another hard shot that was blocked, but found the stick of Emma Schlechter whose attempt was then saved.
After Dickerson's tally gave Rochester the 1-0 lead at 51:06, Mary Washington's final chance of the game came in at 55:58 when Hopkins had a screened attempt in the circle slide just wide of the cage.
Rochester's defense held firm the remainder of the game, despite the Eagles earning three penalty corners and recording a pair of shots over the final 15 minutes.
The Eagles will be back in action on Sunday when they visit Nazareth College at 12:00 p.m.