GENEVA, N.Y. – The William Smith College field hockey team dropped its Liberty League finale to 15th ranked Rochester 3-2 this evening.
 
Rochester's Michelle Relin got the Yellowjackets (13-2, 5-1) off to a fast start scoring on their first shot of the game. In the sixth minute, she took a ball off of a Heron defender's stick and buried her opportunity.
 
The Herons (9-5, 3-3) answered back scoring the game's next two goals. In the 16th minute, William Smith converted on a penalty corner. First-year Maura Moran sent a pass to the top of the circle where classmate Hannah Wood was waiting. Wood fired her 16th goal of the season past the Rochester goalie to level the game at one. Ten minutes later, Moran picked up her fourth goal of the year. She collected a rebound in front of the cage and sent a shot into the back of the net to give the Herons a 2-1 lead.
 
William Smith used a stifling defense to limit the Yellowjackets to just three shots in the first half.
 
In the 49th minute, Rochester's Callie Fisher evened the score at two. She picked up a bouncing ball and found herself alone in front of the cage. With just under 10 minutes to go in the game, Claire Dickerson redirected a Megan Keil shot into the back of the net to put the Yellowjackets up for good. Tiffany White inserted a penalty corner to Keil who let the shot go and all Dickerson had to do was tap in the loose ball as she was all alone behind the Heron goalie.
                                                                         
William Smith controlled the game outshooting Rochester 32-7. The Herons earned 13 penalty corners to the Yellowjackets four and held a 6-0 edge at halftime.
 
Rochester starting goalie Tara Lamberti made several key stops in goal recording 14 saves on the evening. Senior Catherine Hare started in net for William Smith making two saves.
 
The Herons have completed conference play and now need a Union loss to either Skidmore or St. Lawrence to clinch a spot in the Liberty League Tournament. 
 
William Smith returns to action Tuesday when the Herons travel to Pittsford, New York, for a 4 p.m. match with St. John Fisher.