The William Smith College ice hockey team cruised to a 2-0 victory over New England College in a New England Hockey Conference contest at The Cooler Friday evening. With the victory, the Herons are now 8-14-1 overall this season and 6-9-1 in conference play.
Julianna Gong factored into both William Smith’s goals, finishing the game with a goal and an assist. Special teams play keyed the victory for the Herons, who scored a power-play and shorthanded goal. The Herons also limited the Pilgrims to seven shots on its four power plays. Amanda Aalto started in goal and made 17 saves as she picked up her fourth shutout of the season.
New England College (3-18-1, 0-15-0) was led by Mikayla Vincent, who had six shots on goal. Thea Joreö played all 60 minutes in goal and made 42 saves.
William Smith controlled the game from the opening whistle, finishing, the game with a 44-17 advantage in shots on goal.
The Herons opened the scoring at the 6:38 mark of the first period. Emily Martino fired a shot from the point past Joreö and into the upper left corner of the cage. It was Martino’s third goal of the season. Gong and Laura Hill were credited with assists on the power-play goal. William Smith nearly took a 2-0 lead at the 13:57 mark, but Hill’s shot from the right faceoff circle hit the goal post.
In the second period, the Herons continued to apply the pressure, but Joreö stood tall, making 18 saves in the middle frame. In the opening minutes of the period, Hill fired another shot off of a goal post. William Smith did extend its lead to 2-0 on the 17th shot of the period. Gong broke down the left-wing and wristed a shot over the goalie’s right shoulder into the upper left corner of the cage. Her fifth goal of the season was a shorthanded tally. Emma Duffey notched an assist on the goal.
Neither team found the back of the net in the third period. William Smith finished the frame with a 13-6 edge in shots on goal. Just past the midway point of the third period, Emma Faso had a breakaway attempt stopped by Joreö.
William Smith will be back in action tomorrow, Feb. 12, when it welcomes eighth-ranked Norwich to The Cooler. Faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Before the start of the game, the Herons will honor its six members of the Class of 2022, Amanda Aalto, Emma Duffy, Taylor Ettore, Anna Krajewski, Emily Martino and Marykate Martino.
