The sixth-ranked William Smith College field hockey team will host 20th-ranked University of Rochester on Saturday, Nov. 7, in the Liberty League championship game. The contest is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on McCooey Field.

The top-seeded Herons (16-2) advanced to the championship after dispatching Vassar 4-0 on Wednesday evening. Sophomore Hannah Wood matched a William Smith single-game record scoring all four goals. Junior Biz Chirco stopped all nine shots she faced to record her second shutout of the season.

Second-seeded Rochester (16-4) topped Skidmore 2-0 in the other semifinal. Nicole Cerza and Michelle Relin scored for the Yellowjackets, while Tara Lamberti made five saves in the shutout.

Saturday's game is the second meeting between William Smith and Rochester. On Oct. 7, the Herons edged the Yellowjackets 3-2 on McCooey Field. Wood, Alessandra Patrizio, and Jessica Borbee scored for William Smith. Senior Madison Finn recorded two key defensive saves. Relin and Sayake Abe scored for Rochester while Lamberti made nine stops in goal.  

William Smith is led offensively by the powerful one-two punch of Wood and Patrizio. They have combined to score 48 of the Herons' 68 goals this season. Wood continues to climb in the William Smith record books. Her 28 goals are tied for second on the Heron single-season list, two behind Kim O'Gorman's 30. Wood's 62 points are third on the single-season list, five behind O'Gorman and eight behind Sophie Riskie's 70-point season in 2006. Patrizio is second on the team with 20 goals and 45 points. Junior Cydney Conley and sophomore Maura Moran are tied for the team lead with nine assists. Finn anchors the William Smith defensive line and has eight defensive saves. Chirco has seen a majority of minutes in goal and has a 1.73 goals against average and a .731 save percentage this season.

Relin leads the Yellowjackets in goals (18), assists (7), and points 43. Nicole Cerza is second with 10 goals and 21 points. Lamberti has been the mainstay in goal for Rochester, starting all 20 games. She is currently third in the nation with a .879 save percentage and fifth in the nation with a 0.67 goals against average. As a team, Rochester is second in the nation in save percentage (.886) third in the nation in goals against average (0.63) and ninth in shutouts per game (0.53).

Fans can follow the action with Live Stats and All-Access Video. The game will also be broadcast live on WHWS-FM (105.7 in Geneva).