The William Smith College soccer team earned a spot in the Liberty League Tournament championship game with a 3-0 win over RIT in a semifinal match played on Cozzens Field this afternoon. Senior Madeline Buckley and sophomore Kara Shue each logged a goal and an assist in the win.
 
The Herons earned their 11th shutout of the season and improve to 14-2-1 overall. The Tigers finished the season with an 8-5-5 overall record. William Smith will be making its 13th straight trip to the Liberty League Tournament championship game. The Herons extended their unbeaten streak to 14 matches.
 
After a scoreless first half, William Smith broke through 4:47 into the second. Shue sent a cross from the left post to find Buckley streaking in from the top of the box. Buckley sent home her shot for her Liberty League-leading 11th goal this season. Buckley returned the favor 8:366 later, setting up Shue for her sixth goal of the year. Buckley lifted a pass from the right side that went in behind the Tigers' keeper, and Shue was there to send her shot into the back of the net from about eight yards out to make it 2-0. Buckley now ranks 10th on the William Smith career list with 83 points. She's also tied for 10th with 33 career goals. 

In the 82nd minute, Longo capitalized on a perfectly placed cross by senior Brenna Kincaid to stretch the William Smith lead to 3-0. Kincaid lofted her pass from the left side to find Longo in the box for a header goal, her eighth of the season.
 
The Tigers' best scoring chances came in the first half. In the 26th minute, RIT sent a pass into the box, and Elizabeth May was there to get off a shot that was deflected away by a Heron defender through a crowd in front of the goal. With 6:29 remaining in the first half, a header by Maxine Culhane sailed just inches over the crossbar.
 
First-year goalie Nicole McGlinchy played all 90 minutes for the Herons and made one save. Amanda Murray played the entire match in goal for the Tigers and finished with 10 saves. William Smith held a 25-5 advantage in shots and a 6-0 lead in corners.
 
The Herons will face No. 3 St. Lawrence who topped No. 2 RPI 4-2 on penalty kicks today after playing through two overtime periods to a 0-0 tie in Troy, New York. The championship game will be played at Cozzens Field on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.