Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—The fifth-ranked William Smith College soccer team won the Liberty League Championship today, defeating eighth-ranked Hamilton College 1-0 on Cozzens Field. The 2007 Liberty League Rookie of the Year, Brelynn Nasypany (Herkimer/Herkimer, N.Y.), scored the game-winning goal with just over five minutes left on the clock. The Herons remain undefeated with a 17-0-1 overall mark, and tied the record for most wins in the regular season with the 1986 team. The Continentals drop to 14-1-1 after their first loss of the season.
The lone goal of the game came after 84 minutes, 55 seconds of scoreless, back-and-forth action. Sophomore
Megan Stevens (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) passed the ball to Nasypany in the middle of the box, who turned and ripped a shot into the upper left corner of the net from 12 yards out. The goal was Nasypany's 13th of the season.
The Heron defense, led by Liberty League Player of the Year senior
Tracy Stankavage (Chittenango/Chittenango, N.Y.), and all-league selections senior
Leigh Williamson (Arlington/Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) and junior
Ali Art (Herricks/Manhasset Hills, N.Y.), allowed the Continentals just seven shots throughout the game.
First-year Heron goalkeeper
Alice Binns (Beaver Country Day/Boston, Mass.) picked up six saves in her seventh shutout of the year. She now owns a 13-0-1 record in net, along with a 0.22 goals against average and a .952 save percentage. Senior Caitlin McGilley (Lawrenceville School/Northfield, N.J.) collected 10 saves for Hamilton, including two tough shots from Nasypany on a one-on-one breakaway and a penalty kick.
William Smith out shot the Continentals 17-7, and held a slim 4-3 advantage in corner kick opportunities.
With the win, the Herons earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, marking the eighth time in the past decade that William Smith will appear in the tournament. The Liberty League title is the first for the Herons since the championship format was introduced to the league in 2002.
The NCAA Tournament bracket will be announced tomorrow night online at ncaasports.com.
