The William Smith College ice hockey team dropped their first ever varsity game played in the Cooler 2-0 to Utica this afternoon.  The game between the Herons and the Pioneers was also William Smith's first ECAC West contest.
 
The Herons and Utica played a tight, fast paced, first period with the Pioneers holding a slight 11-6 lead in shots. Utica was able to pull in front in the second period.  With the Pioneers on a power play, Samantha Husak fired a shot from the point that Nicole Schwartz redirected past the goalie into the net. Mackenzie Roy added a power play goal in the third period to give Utica the 2-0 lead. Kelsey Dowdall drilled a shot from the right side of the cage that deflected off of Samantha Pucci and fell at Roy's feet in front of the goal. She tucked the puck into the goal.
 
William Smith's best scoring opportunity came while trailing 1-0 in the second period. Shortly after a Heron power play, Lizzy Weingast broke down the right side of the ice and fired a wrist shot at the net.  The shot cleanly beat Utica's goalie but rang off the left pipe and ricocheted harmlessly to the boards.
 
Maggie Salmon started her second game in net for William Smith and made 36 saves. Keira Goin started in goal for Utica and made 13 saves in the shutout effort.
 
The Pioneers outshot the Herons 38-13. William Smith was unable to convert on either of their two power plays while Utica went 2-4 with the man advantage.
 
The historic night for the Herons was proceeded by a pregame ceremony in which William Smith Athletics, the Heron Society and the City of Geneva welcomed the William Smith varsity ice hockey team into the Cooler. William Smith Athletic Director Deb Steward was joined at center ice by Hobart and William Smith President Mark Gearan, Chair of the HWS Board of Trustees Maureen Zupan '72 P'09, ECAC Associate Vice President for Leagues & Affiliates Katie Boldvich, and Geneva City Manager Matt Horn for a ceremonial puck drop.
 
The Herons return to action tomorrow night when they travel to Utica, New York to complete the home and home series with the Pioneers. Faceoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Utica Memorrial Auditorium.