Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College soccer team was handed its first loss of the season today, as Worcester State College defeated the Herons 2-0 in NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Tournament first round action on Cozzens Field. Fifth-ranked William Smith wraps up its season with a 17-1-1 record, while Worcester State improves to 15-5-0 overall and advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

After a scoreless first half, the Lancers got on the board in the 58th minute, as junior Tiffany Rotatori (Auburn, Mass.) netted her 10th goal of the season on a breakaway, unassisted. After outrunning two Heron defenders, Rotatori’s shot from eight yards out found the lower left corner of the goal, barely getting past first-year William Smith goalie Alice Binns (Beaver Country Day/Boston, Mass.).

Less than 10 minutes later, Worcester State senior midfielder Kelsey Irish (Hudson, Mass.) tallied to give the Lancers a 2-0 lead. Irish’s attempt to cross the ball drifted across the goal line, deflecting off the right post and into the net for her eighth goal of the season.

William Smith senior forward Laura Burnett-Kurie (Oyster River/Durham, N.H.) created multiple opportunities for the Herons in the second half. She booted two late-game crossed balls, but William Smith could not capitalize. Burnett-Kurie was also responsible for three of the Herons’ 11 shots. One shot sailed just high of the goal in the 49th minute.

William Smith out shot Worcester State 11-6, and held a 5-1 advantage in corner kick opportunities.

Worcester State first-year goalkeeper Erin Doherty (Uxbridge, Mass.) collected three saves in her 11th shutout of the year, while Binns finished with one stop.

The Lancers will play the winner of the Union-Elizabethtown match tomorrow, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m.