The seventh-ranked William Smith College soccer team was edged by 22nd-ranked Bowdoin 1-0 in overtime in the second round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship on Cozzens Field this afternoon.
Mary Rainey scored the game-winning goal in the 105th minute to send Bowdoin to the third round. Charlotte Iannone played all 110 minutes in goal for the Polar Bears and made five saves.
Kirsten Nelson played all 110 minutes in goal for the Herons and also made five saves.
FOR THE RECORD
- Bowdoin is now 11-4-5 on the season.
- William Smith concludes its season with a 14-1-4 overall record.
- This was the first meeting between the Herons and Polar Bears.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Bowdoin finished the game with a 15-11 edge in shots.
- The Polar Bears also had a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks.
SCORING SUMMARY
- Off a corner kick, the ball fell to Rainey at the top of the 18-yard box, she spun her defender and chipped a shot past Nelson for her second goal of the season.
MATCH MOMENTS
- In the fourth minute, Emily Johnson had the game’s first scoring opportunity turned aside by Iannone.
- At the opposite end of the field, Stephanie Christians just missed the crossbar with a shot from outside the 18-yard box.
- Kaleigh Darby had one of the better chances for the Herons in the 32nd minute. Her shot was turned aside by Iannone.
- Late in the first half, Moira van der Putt had a shot that just missed the left goal post.
- In the second half, Bowdoin applied the pressure, outshooting William Smith 8-2 in the frame.
- In the 63rd minute, Nelson turned aside a shot from Stephanie Christians.
- One minute later, Marjorie Plants had a shot blocked by a Bowdoin defender.
- In the 81st minute, Rainey had a shot stopped by Nelson. The rebound was chipped just over the crossbar by Morgan Smiley.
- In the closing seconds of regulation, Emma Faso had a chance as she raced down the left sidelines but she was chased down by a Polar Bear defender who sealed off her lane to the goal.
- In the first overtime session, Julia Berg had a chance smothered by Iannone.
- Early in the second overtime Ava Brazie had William Smith’s best chance of the game. Off a corner kick, she ripped a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that was smothered by the Bowdoin goalie.
- In the 106th minute, Bowdoin had an opportunity to make it 2-0, but Samaya Bernardo’s shot was smothered by a charging Nelson.
COACH’S COMMENTS
SENIOR SALUTE
This year’s squad featured five fifth-year players, Julia DiMenna Julia Berg, Katrine Berg, Seneca Blakely-Armitage and Emma Faso. The group finishes their career with a 68-7-12 overall record. In four seasons, they guided the Herons to four NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the championship game in 2019. They won four Liberty League regular season titles and three tournament championships. Maggie Speckhart, Kirsten Nelson, Ava Ruppersberger, Emma Kirts, Taylor Ashe, Emily Johnson and Ava Brazie compiled 47 wins and three NCAA tournament appearances in their three seasons at William Smith.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].