GENEVA, N.Y.—The 12th-ranked William Smith College field hockey team secured the top seed in the Liberty League Tournament with a 3-0 shutout of Vassar College. Junior Kelsey Landahl (Pioneer/Delevan, N.Y.) scored a pair of goals to pace the Heron attack.

William Smith (11-3, 6-0) dominated the play in the first half, but junior goalie Taylor Herman (Hunterdon/Flemington, N.J.) and the Brewers’ defense kept the Herons at arm’s length. Herman weathered 14 William Smith shots, ringing up six saves in the first 35 scoreless minutes.

The Herons finally got on the board in the 43rd minute, when sophomore Janelle Walkley (Tioga/Tioga Center, N.Y.) converted a penalty stroke into her fourth goal of the season. Ninety seconds later, senior Brittney Paye (Clinton/Clinton, N.Y.) set a shot towards the left corner of the cage that Landahl tipped home.

Landahl’s second tally was nearly an instant replay of the first, this time classmate Kaitlyn Hamilton (Harpursville/Harpursville, N.Y.) set the shot her way. Landahl has eight goals on the season.

Junior goalie Katie DeKraker (Staples/Wesport, Conn.) posted her fifth shutout of the year, thwarting Vassar’s lone scoring chance. She made a sliding stop of first-year Jessica Lance’s (Enfield/Enfield, Conn.) breakaway shot.

The victory wrapped up the No. 1 seed and the right to host the Liberty League Tournament, Nov. 2-3. With wins this afternoon, Skidmore and St. Lawrence also earned spots in the four-team field. The final team will be decided by tomorrow’s League games.

The loss drops the Brewers to 3-10 on the season, 0-6 in the Liberty League.

The Herons are back in action on Oct. 20, when they host Rensselaer at 2 p.m.

Click the play button below to listen to William Smith Head Coach Sally Scatton's postgame press conference.