GENEVA, N.Y – The William Smith College ice hockey team closed out its inaugural season with a 4-0 victory over Cortland State this evening at The Cooler. First-year Maggie Salmon recorded 42 saves and held the Red Dragons off the scoreboard, notching her first collegiate victory and the first shutout in program history. Rebecca Begley and Rachel McKay recorded a game-high two points apiece.
 
McKay scored what turned out to be the game-winner at 11:38 of the first period. Rebecca Begley fired a shot from the right corner. Cortland goalie Kelly Farinella stopped Begley's initial shot. McKay was standing on the doorstep, collected the rebound and shot the puck into the net.  Less than a minute later, McKay had a golden opportunity to double the Herons' lead. She intercepted a pass at the offensive blue line and blasted a shot. Farinella's late jump on the shot did not prevent her from getting a glove on the puck to keep it 1-0.
 
William Smith extended its lead to 2-0 with 26 seconds remaining in the second period. Federow dug a puck out of the left corner and sent it to Johanna Slicklen who was streaking into the offensive zone, fresh off a line change. Slicklen's shot hit a couple sticks in front and Linehan, who was stationed at the top of the crease, tipped home the shot for her fifth goal of the season.
 
At 05:46 of the third period, Kiley Fewster notched her fifth goal of the season. McKay created a turnover at the defensive blue line and dished the puck to Fewster. Fewster ripped a shot from the top of the left circle that beat the Cortland goalie high blocker side. Four minutes later, Begley picked up a goal of her own to ice the game for the Herons. Sarah Garrett took the puck deep into the offensive zone and sent a pass to Begley at the point. Begley's slap shot from the right side beat Fariella top shelf.  With the Herons up 4-0, Salmon made some of her biggest saves of the game. With 18 seconds remaining, Corey Temple won a faceoff back to Katie Gill. Gill walked in and recorded a shot that Salmon blocked, the rebound fell to Temple's stick. Salmon then made a sprawling stop on Temple's quick wrist shot to preserve the shutout. 
 
Salmon started between the pipes for the Herons and stopped all 42 shots she faced enroute to collecting her first victory and the first shutout in William Smith varsity history. Fariella stopped 24 of the 28 shots she faced for Cortland.
 
Both teams came away empty on the power play. The Herons killed off all six of their penalties with Salmon standing tall making 13 of her 42 saves while Cortland was on the power play.  The Red Dragons killed off both of their penalties. The biggest kill for both teams came late in the third. Slicklen and Sydney Carlucci were called for matching roughing minors. With the teams skating four on four, Bayreuther was called for an interference penalty. William Smith killed off 45 seconds of 4 vs 3 play and then the final minute plus of Bayreuther's penalty.
 
The Herons concluded their inaugural season matching their season-high output of goals, four.  They also scored four goals against Buffalo State on Jan. 23.