AMHERST, MASS.-- It took two overtime periods and 10 penalty strokes, but the William Smith field hockey team is going back to the NCAA Semifinals for the third time in four years. A goal by senior forward Lauren vonBereghy (University Lake School/Hartland, Wis.) in the penalty stroke round lifted the Herons to a 3-2 victory over the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons.
William Smith took control of the play early on, keeping much of the action around Cortland's net. The Herons finally broke through at the 24:23 mark, as vonBereghy set up junior forward Jackie Hall's (Berkshire School/Newport R.I.) 17th goal of the season. Cortland coach Cynthia Wetmore called a timeout immediately after the goal to cool off William Smith and settle her players. The timeout appeared to work as the Red Dragon's responded with intense pressure of their own. However, Cortland couldn't find the net and Hall answered with her second goal of the game at the 10:11 mark and the Herons led 2-0 at the half.
Cortland wasted no time in the second half, cutting the lead to 2-1 as Stacey Russell knocked the ball past junior goalie Marjie MacVean (Johnstown/Johnstown, N.Y.) with less than three minutes gone. The Red Dragons continued the pressure and finally got the equalizer with 20 minutes left in regulation on a shot by Julie Gentner that eluded Heron defenders and MacVean. After both teams traded chances in the next ten minutes, Heron coach Sally Scatton gave MacVean a breather, putting in first-year goalkeeper Jess Kulesa (Garden City/Patchogue, N.Y.). Kulesa responded with a big save with just over a minute remaining, keeping the game tied at two. The Heron offense created one last flurry as time expired, but couldn't net the game winner.
In the first overtime period, the Herons had their opportunities. At the 5:19 mark, William Smith was awarded a penalty stroke, but junior midfielder Nicky Livingston (Whitney Point/Whitney Point, N.Y.) fired the ball just wide of the right goal post. Three minutes later vonBereghy just missed the left post of the Cortland net.
Neither team controlled the play in the second overtime, but Cortland's Gentner had a chance to win the game with just over a minute remaining. She carried the ball down the right side of the field, but ripped the ball wide to the left of MacVean. Neither team threatened again as time expired.
In the penalty stroke round, MacVean came up big for the Herons, stopping a high shot with her gloves on the first stroke and diving to her right for a stick save on the second. The next three Red Dragon strokes were wide right. For the Herons vonBereghy converted on the only shot William Smith needed, beating Cortland's Becky Gillette stickside and eventually the Red Dragon's 3-2.
With the victory the Herons improve to 18-1 on the season and 22-10 in their NCAA history. William Smith returns to action next weekend in the NCAA Semifinals in Salisbury, Md. Nov. 11, at 11 a.m., when the Herons take on the Salisbury State Seagulls.
--HWS SPORTS--
