Forward Emma Faso scored 5:33 into the second overtime as the sixth-seeded William Smith College ice hockey team knocked off third-seeded Southern Maine 2-1 in a New England Hockey Conference quarterfinal at USM Ice Arena this afternoon. With their fourth straight victory, the Herons are now 10-14-1 overall this season and advance to the NEHC semifinals.
William Smith (10-14-1) will be back in action next Saturday, Feb. 19, when they travel down the Seneca Lake to take on Elmira in an NEHC semifinal contest. The Soaring Eagles are ranked third in the nation and are the No. 1 seed in the NEHC tournament.
Faso’s fifth goal of the season ended the longest game in program history. At 85:33 minutes, it eclipsed the previous longest game by nearly 20 minutes. Faso skated down the left wing and wristed a shot through Haley McKim’s legs. The game-winning goal was an unassisted tally.
Lauren Jackson scored the other goal for the Herons. Amanda Aalto started and played every minute in goal, making 30 saves.
Georgie Snow scored for Southern Maine (15-10-0). McKim also went the distance in goal. The NEHC Rookie and Goalie of the Year made 31 saves.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first period. While the teams traded chances, the goalies stole the show, keeping the game deadlocked after the opening 20 minutes.
Snow opened the scoring at the 11:58 mark of the second period. She snapped a shot from the point past Aalto for her eighth goal of the season. Ally Stymiest was credited with an assist on the goal.
Just before the midway point of the third period, Jackson beat McKim to tie the game. Standing in the slot, she redirected a Sydney Lester shot into the back of the net. The goal was Jackson’s first of the season.
In the first overtime, William Smith had the better of the play, finishing with a 9-4 edge in shots on goal. Despite the mounting zone time, William Smith could not sneak a shot past McKim.
In the second overtime, Aalto made a pair of saves before Faso raced the length of the ice and scored the game-deciding goal.
A tight game, the Herons finished with a 33-31 edge in shots on goal. William Smith was 1-for-3 on the power play and Southern Maine was 0-for-1 with the extra skater.
