GENEVA, N.Y.—The No. 10 William Smith College soccer team played through 110 minutes to a 1-1 tie with No. 3 Messiah College in its home opener on a rainy Cozzens Field. The Herons are now 1-1-1 overall, while the visiting Falcons are 3-0-1 this season.
 
William Smith has now gone unbeaten in 12 straight home openers, posting a 10-0-2 record in those contests. Both of the ties have come at the hands of the Messiah.
 
Messiah jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 4:40 into the contest on a goal by Marisa Weaver. Her tally came after a William Smith foul just outside of the box gave the Falcons a free kick, which Weaver blasted into the back of the net.
 
At 10:51 the Falcons were awarded another free kick. This time it was taken by Holly Burgard, but William Smith first-year keeper Kaileen Murray made the leaping save. The Herons also had a chance to get on the board in the first half, but Messiah goalie Audra Larson made a diving save to keep junior Brie Ruane's shot from going in. The Falcons controlled the ball for most of the first half.
 
The Herons came out strong in the second half. First-year Sarah Olick-Sutphen logged her first collegiate goal to tie the game up for William Smith in the 60th minute. Ruane pushed a short cross to Olick-Sutphen who was streaking into the box and fired home a low rolling shot.
 
The Heron defense held strong in overtime. The Falcons logged seven shots in the first overtime and added one more in the second, but neither team could find the game-winning goal. One of the best scoring chances for Messiah in overtime came in the final minute. Burgard took a shot from just inside the box, but it was immediately cleared out on a header by Heron defender junior Emma Diehl.
 
Murray finished with eight saves in goal for William Smith and Larson stopped three shots for Messiah. The Falcons held a 15-7 edge in shots and a 10-2 lead in corners.
 
The Herons will be back in action on Sept. 15, when they travel to play a non-league game at Fredonia at 7 p.m.