Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—The 24th-ranked William Smith College soccer team defeated fifth-ranked Rochester 2-0 this afternoon, in a battle of two of the country’s top teams. The Herons improve to an impressive 5-0-0 record after handing the Yellowjackets (3-1-0) their first loss of the season.

Senior forward Laura Burnett-Kurie (Oyster River/Durham, N.H.) led William Smith with the unassisted game-winning goal, and assisted Liberty League Rookie of the Week Brelynn Nasypany (Herkimer/Herkimer, N.Y.) for the Herons’ second tally.

Burnett-Kurie was responsible for the first goal. In the 24th minute, she tried to cross the ball in front of the net, but the ball’s path was altered by a Yellowjacket defender, and it trickled past the goalkeeper for her fifth goal of the season and the 40th of her career.

At the 29-minute mark, Burnett-Kurie led Nasypany up the middle for a breakaway score from 17 yards out. The Herons held a 2-0 lead at the half, and neither team would score after the break.

Yellowjacket juniors Kelsey Turley (Aquinas Institute/Rochester, N.Y.) and Laura Bojko (Churchville-Chili/Rochester, N.Y.) each had multiple opportunities to score, but all of their efforts were stopped by first-year Heron goalkeeper Alice Binns (Beaver Country Day/Boston, Mass.).

In the hard-fought contest, Rochester out shot its host 14-7 and held a 9-4 advantage in corner kick opportunities.

Binns finished with five saves and her first career shutout, while the Heron team was credited with two saves and its third shutout of the season. Yellowjacket senior goalie Molly Leitch (Rocky River/Rocky River, Ohio) collected two saves.

William Smith will be back in action on Sept. 16, when it travels to DeSales for a non-league match up at noon.