Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith College senior Caroline Wenzel (Geneva/Geneva, N.Y.) scored a pair of goals to lead the Heron soccer team to a 3-0 season opening win over visiting Cortland State.

The Red Dragons (0-1-0) looked dangerous in the opening minutes, but it was William Smith (1-0-0) who capitalized first when Wenzel tracked down a long ball from junior Pria Young (Council Rock/Richboro, Pa.) and slotted it past the Cortland goalkeeper in the fourth minute. The Herons continued to put pressure on the Red Dragons’ defense, forcing them to foul and giving William Smith a free kick from 25 yards out. Junior Kate Warner (Gould Academy/Gloucester, Mass.) stepped up to the ball and rifled it into the left upper ninety to give the Herons a 2-0 edge with 12 minutes left in the opening half.

It was much of the same in the second half as the Herons continued to find ways to get behind the Red Dragon backline. After being denied by Cortland goalie Christa Windhorst (Honeoye Falls-Lima/Rochester, N.Y.) twice before, Wenzel knocked her second score of the afternoon in the 63rd minute off a pass from junior Danya Michaels (Cape Elizabeth/Cape Elizabeth, Maine).

The Herons held a 17-5 edge on shots for the game and won six corner kicks, while giving up none. In goal sophomore Nikki Dudley (Chittenango/Canastota, N.Y.) made two saves, while Windhorst pulled in eight stops.

William Smith returns to action this weekend traveling to Oneonta State for the Red Dragon Invitational. The Herons will meet up with Gettysburg on Sept. 4, at 2:30 p.m., and will face off with defending national champion Oneonta the following afternoon at 2:30 p.m.

--HWS SPORTS--