GENEVA, N.Y. – The seventh-ranked William Smith College field hockey team prevailed 4-1 in a non-conference match against 19th-ranked New Paltz on McCooey Field this afternoon. Sophomore
Hannah Wood registered a career-high four goals to pace the Herons.
New Paltz (10-3) thought they had taken a 1-0 lead early in the game. Jessica Caruana fired a shot that beat William Smith goalie,
Biz Chirco. However, Caruana had not stepped inside the circle when she took the shot and the goal was waved off.
In the 16th minute, Wood deked around a defender and slipped a shot through the goaltender's pads to give the Herons (11-1) the lead. Thirty-four seconds later Wood struck again. Junior
Jessica Borbee slapped a crossing pass in front of the cage. Wood reached her stick out and tipped the ball into the cage. The goal was her team-leading 17th of the season.
The Hawks had a flurry of scoring opportunities in the final two minutes of the half. Caruana had a shot turned aside by William Smith senior
Madison Finn. It was Finn's seventh defensive save of the season, a Heron single-season record. Twenty seconds later, Erin Lindy had a shot turned aside by Chirco. Kayla McKeveny collected the rebound off of Lindy's shot and sent a pass to Sam Eberle who tucked the ball over the goal line to bring SUNY New Paltz within a goal.
William Smith got momentum back quickly in the second half. In the 38th minute, Wood completed the hat trick. She made a move around a defender and blasted a shot from the right side of the attacking zone that beat Alayna Wageman on the near side post. Just over three minutes later, Wood pocketed her fourth goal of the game, tying a Heron single-game record. Junior
Alessandra Patrizio fed Wood a pass just inside the attacking zone. Wood stepped into the circle and blasted a shot from top of the arc, beating Wageman.
New Paltz had a couple of scoring opportunities late in the game but were unable to solve the William Smith defense.
Chirco started in goal for the Herons and made five saves in 62:30. Sophomore
Emily King played the final 7:30 and stopped three shots. Wageman played the first 45:46 for the Hawks and stopped three shots. Megan Gangewere made one stop in relief.
New Paltz outshot William Smith 15-13 and earned six penalty corners to the Herons two.
William Smith will return to Liberty League play on Friday, Oct. 16, when it travels to Schenectady to take on Union. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
