GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College field hockey team downed No.19 SUNY Cortland 3-1 this afternoon at McCooey Field, earning its second top-25 win of the season.
Saturday’s matchup between the Red Dragons and the Herons did not disappoint. William Smith outshot Cortland 12-8 on the day, with both teams landing six of them on goal. Junior Kristen McCormick led the Heron defense playing all 60 minutes and recording five saves.
MATCH MOMENTS:
- Just 3:21 into the game, junior Sofia Pattillo would open the scoring for the Herons. Pattillo deflected in a shot from teammate Rebecca Mantione, earning Pattillo her sixth goal of the season.
- Just over five minutes later in the first period, graduate student Emily Leonard would record her ninth goal of the season as she beat the Red Dragon goalie on a scramble in front of the goal.
- 3:52 into the second half, the Herons would be awarded a penalty corner which ended in their third goal of the game. Leonard would put the ball into play to teammate Mantione who ripped a shot from the top of the arc which beat the Red Dragon goalie extending the Herons lead to three.
- Not even a minute later Cortland would get one back off a penalty stroke goal by senior Lily Fox.
- The Heron defense would continue to play strong with impressive performances by seniors Mary Kate Breward, Lauren Jackson, and Kate Barilla. The strong defensive efforts would successfully keep the Red Dragons off the board for the remainder of the game.
COACHES CORNER:
“Today was a hard-fought battle against a strong Cortland team,” said Head Coach Sophie Riskie ’07. “I am so proud of the Herons for finishing the opportunities we had early in the game and withstanding a lot of pressure in the second half. We look forward to kicking off Liberty League play next Friday.”
UP NEXT:
William Smith will head to the University of Rochester on Friday, Sept. 23 to open up Liberty League play at 5 p.m.
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