GRANTHAM, Pa. – The fifth-ranked William Smith College field hockey team was tripped up by 17th-ranked Messiah 4-1 in the regular season finale this afternoon.

The Falcons (13-5) scored three times in the first nine minutes of the game and used a solid defensive effort to defeat the Herons. In the third minute, Moriah Pfautz scored the game's first goal. Pfautz collected a rebound and deposited the ball in the back of the net. In the eighth minute, Carissa Gehman scored to double Messiah's lead. Taylor Holt inserted a penalty corner to Kristin Donohue, who stopped the ball for Gehman, who blasted it past Biz Chirco. One minute later, Taylor Holt scored to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead. She flicked in a shot from just inside the left post. Nicole Wilkerson was credited with the assist on the goal.

Messiah's defense limited William Smith (15-2) to just two shots in the first half.

The Falcons extended their lead to 4-0 in the 54th minute. Casie Stief fired a shot past the William Smith goalie.

In the 65th minute, sophomore Hannah Wood notched her 24th goal of the season to get the Herons on the board. Wood's initial shot off the penalty corner was blocked. She collected her own rebound and deposited a shot in the back of the net.

Chirco got the start in goal for William Smith and made one save in 8:41 of action. Sophomore Emily King came on in relief and made two saves in the final 61:19. Shelby Landes started in goal and played all 70 minutes for the Falcons.

Messiah outshot the Herons 14-5 on the afternoon and held a 7-5 advantage in penalty corners.

William Smith returns to action on McCooey Field on Wednesday when it hosts Vassar in the semifinals of the Liberty League tournament. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.