The nationally-ranked William Smith College field hockey team defeated Nazareth University 3-0 this evening on the road at NLPA Field. The Herons move to 4-2 on the season while the Golden Flyers fall to 0-4.
William Smith outshot Nazareth 35-0, including a 28-0 edge in shots on goal. Graduate student Mackenzie Wodka and sophomore Lily Gutch both recorded a team-leading six shots, with both landing five on target. First-year Leah Griffith chipped in four shots on target and earned her first career point as a Heron, assisting on William Smith’s opening goal.
The Herons also had the edge in penalty corners as William Smith dominated with 12 compared to the Golden Flyers zero. This is the first time the Herons have allowed zero shots in a game since William Smith defeated Oswego State, 7-0, on August 29, 2014.
MATCH MOMENTS:
- William Smith dominated through the first 15 minutes, firing off six shots compared to Nazareth’s zero. Madilyn Satter recorded four saves for the Golden Flyers to keep the score deadlocked at zero.
- 9:16 into the second quarter, William Smith would get on the board first. First-year Leah Griffith found possession of the ball on the endline and sent a pass back to a cutting fellow first-year, Kylee Knuschke. Knuschke fired off a shot that slipped past Satter to give the Herons a 1-0 lead and Knuschke her first career goal as a Heron. Griffith was credited with the assist, marking her first career point for William Smith.
- With 8.6 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the Herons would strike again. With time winding down, senior Cora Nagle fired a pass into the arc that deflected off of senior Sofia Pattillo. The deflection fell perfectly to senior Alaura Enright, who slotted a shot past Satter to double William Smith’s lead.
- The Herons would strike again with 11:24 remaining in the game, this time off the stick of Nagle. After being awarded a penalty corner, William Smith would win the scramble in front of the net. Nagle found the ball at her stick and fired off a shot that beat the goalie to put the Herons up 3-0.
- Senior Brittany Foster played all 60 minutes in goal for William Smith and did not face a shot in the contest. Foster moves to 1-0 on the season for the Herons.
COACHES CORNER:
“Tonight we put up a lot of shots which is what we continue to strive for,” Head Coach Sophie Riskie ’07 said. “We played a much stronger second half and had a very strong defensive effort tonight allowing no shots for Nazareth.”
UP NEXT:
William Smith will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 16, when it heads to Cortland, New York, to take on SUNY Cortland. The Herons are set to take on the Red Dragons at 1 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].