GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith College sophomore Kaitlyn Hamilton (Harpursville/Harpursville, N.Y.) scored 71 seconds into overtime to lift the Herons over Skidmore College 2-1 in the championship match of the Liberty League Field Hockey Tournament. The title is William Smith's fourth consecutive and ninth overall since the League was founded in 1995.

Hamilton's heroics were set up by superb passing by her teammates. Taking advantage of the open field in the 7-on-7 overtime format, the Herons were able to get a penalty corner. Junior Kelsey Landahl's (Pioneer/Delevan, N.Y.) insertion went to the top of the circle to senior Brittney Paye (Clinton/Clinton, N.Y.). Paye sent a pass to sophomore Sarah Palmer (Friends School/Baltimore, Md.) on the left side of the cage. Palmer made a square pass to the opposite side to a wide-open Hamilton, whose shot beat the defense just inside the right post.

The score earned 12th-ranked William Smith an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament, the team's 18th NCAA bid.

The Herons (15-4) trailed 1-0 at halftime after senior Shaila DeLea (Sacopee Valley/Cornish, Mass.) deposited her team-leading 13th goal of the year in the match's 29th minute. DeLea cleaned up a scramble in front giving the 17th-ranked Thoroughbreds the lead.

Still trailing with less than 17 minutes remaining and facing heavy offensive pressure from Skidmore (13-5), William Smith Head Coach Sally Scatton called a timeout.

The tactic worked, as the Herons worked their way into the attacking zone where junior Jamie Tucciarone (Clinton/Clinton, N.Y.) got two chances at tying the match in the 59th minute and made the second one count. A long cross from the right wing found Tucciarone right in front, where she took a point-blank shot that first-year goalie Liz Catinella (Lincoln Sudbury/Sudbury, Mass.) stopped. The rebound came right back to Tucciarone and she flipped her second offering over Catinella's pads to force overtime. Catinella finished with nine saves.

William Smith's defense came up huge on more than one occasion to keep the Herons close. Junior Charlotte Styer (Governor Mifflin/Mohnton, Pa.) made a defensive save in the 17th minute, while classmate Leila Higgins (Groton School/Peapack, N.J.) also recorded a defensive save in the 54th minute. Junior goalie Katie DeKraker (Staples/Westport, Conn.) recorded four saves to earn the win.

The NCAA Tournament brackets will be announced on Mon., Nov. 5, on NCAASports.com.