GENEVA, N.Y.- The William Smith College soccer team edged a talented Nazareth College squad, 1-0 for its third straight victory. The Herons, who have won five of their last six games, improve to 7-4-0, while the Golden Flyers drop to 8-2-1.

After an evenly matched first 20 minutes, sophomore midfielder Alyson Stachura (Pittsford Sutherland/Pittsford, N.Y.) walked in and drove her fifth goal of the season past Nazareth goalie Kim French. Tight defense limited each team's scoring chances and the Herons took the 1-0 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Golden Flyers turned up the pressure. With 26 minutes to go, Nazareth's Shannon Ranous's shot was stopped point blank by junior goalie Leah Cornwell (Wheatland-Chili/Caledonia, N.Y.). In the 89th minute, Cornwell came up big again, coming way out of the net to steal a cross from a wide-open Golden Flyer. Nazareth wouldn't threaten again as the Herons held on for the 1-0 win.

Cornwell finished with six saves for her fourth shutout of the season. Stachura (5-0-10) is William Smith's second leading scorer. The Heron's are on the road Saturday Oct. 7, at noon to take on Hamilton College.

-HWS SPORTS-