Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith College junior Taylor Cappello notched a hat trick to lead the 15th-ranked Heron field hockey team to a 6-1 Liberty League victory over St. Lawrence University. William Smith extended its win streak to eight matches and improved to 9-1 overall, 3-0 in the conference. The Saints fall to 2-8, 1-2.

The Herons needed just 25 seconds to open the afternoon's scoring. Junior Melanie O'Connor dribbled down the middle of the circle to about 4 yards where she slipped a shot inside the right post for a 1-0 lead. In the 14th minute, Cappello deflected Caitlin Moran's shot into the back of the cage, giving William Smith a two-goal advantage.

Four minutes later, St. Lawrence took advantage of a defensive miscue to get on the board. Following a Heron turnover just outside the circle, senior Courtney Cartier was able to evade hard-charging sophomore goalie Catherine Hare and score her sixth goal of the season.

Cappello broke the game open with consecutive goals 5:30 apart. In the 23rd minute, senior Annie Kietzman laced a shot toward the back post that Cappello tapped home for a 3-1 lead. That scored chased SLU's starting goalie, sophomore Brady Cooper (6 saves).

The next goal came in a similar fashion. Kietzman fired a diagonal pass to the back post, to a waiting Cappello, who got just enough lift on her shot to get it over the diving attempt of junior goalie Nicole Matos. The goal was Cappello's team-leading 13th of the season while Kietzman's assist raised her team-leading total to 14, three off Liz Saucier's six-year-old record.

Junior Julia Simmons sent the Herons into the break with a 5-1 lead, finishing a long cross from senior Sara Helmer in the 31st minute. Helmer capped the afternoon's scoring with a penalty stroke goal in the 55th minute.

Hare earned the win in 35 minutes of work and senior Taryn Little was credited with two saves in the second half. Matos turned away a season-high 12 shots.

William Smith continues conference play on Saturday, October 6, when the Herons host fourth-ranked Skidmore at 2 p.m. The Saints will take on Rochester at the same time tomorrow.