When the William Smith field hockey team takes the field Friday night against Rochester, they will be donning pink jerseys instead of their traditional green in honor of breast cancer awareness month.
 
All month long, William Smith teams have been wearing pink shirts in support of the cause. While admission is not charged at McCoey Field, game management staff will ask fans to make a donation to Embrace Your Sisters, an Ontario County based nonprofit organization that provides short-term, emergency financial assistance to people diagnosed with breast cancer.
 
On Oct. 22, William Smith student-athletes and coaches ask the entire community to join them in wearing pink. Also on that day, Bridget Viens from EYS will be on campus from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Scandling Center providing information. She will be joined by members of the William Smith Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The Herons will be selling pink t-shirts and soliciting donations for EYS.
 
The Herons (9-4) enter Friday's key Liberty League contest with a 3-2 mark in conference play. William Smith is led offensively by first-year standout Hannah Wood. She has registered a team high 15 goals and 34 points. Sophomore Katie Meyer is second on the team with seven goals and 14 points. Meyer's classmate, Alessandra Patrizio has recorded a team-high six assists on the season. Senior goalie Catherine Hare has started all 13 games for William Smith, posting a 1.45 goals against average and a .802 save percentage. She has recorded four shutouts while making 73 saves this season.
 
The Yellowjackets (12-2, 4-1) have already clinched a spot in the four-team Liberty League Tournament. Michelle Relin leads Rochester in goals (15), assists (4) and points (34). Relin's point total is tied with Wood for third most in the conference. Tara Lamberti has started all 14 games in goal for Rochester, making 86 saves with a 1.15 goals against average while posting a .851 save percentage.
 
William Smith can clinch a spot in the Liberty League Tournament with a win over the Yellowjackets or a Union loss to either Skidmore on Oct. 24, or St. Lawrence on Oct. 25.
 
Fans who cannot be in attendance can follow all the action with All-Access Video and Live Stats. Friday's contest will also be broadcast live on WHWS-FM (105.7 in Geneva).