GENEVA, N.Y. – The eighth-ranked William Smith field hockey team scored five first half goals on its way to defeating Nazareth 7-0 this evening on McCooey Field. Junior Alessandra Patrizio notched a game-high seven points for the Herons.
 
Patrizio opened the game's scoring just under five minutes into the first half. Sophomore Alexandra Frary ripped a shot from the top of the 16-yard arc that Patrizio redirected into the goal. The goal was Patrizio's 10th of the season.
 
Less than five minutes later, Hannah Wood scored to give the Herons a 2-0 lead. Patrizio inserted a penalty corner to the top of the arc where junior Cydney Conley stopped the ball for Wood to blast past the Golden Flyer goalie. Patrizio notched her second of the game at 23:18 of the first half. Conley picked up a loose ball in front of the cage and sent a pass to Patrizio who was waiting to tuck the shot across the goal line.

Just past the half hour mark of the game, sophomore Maura Moran made it 4-0 William Smith. After inserting a penalty corner Moran stayed along the goal line. Junior Lindsay Brandt fired a shot that Moran redirected into the net. A little over a minute later, senior Madison Finn notched her first goal of the season. She was awarded a penalty stroke for a dangerous play in front of the goal and converted it.
 
In the second half, Moran notched her second goal of the game once again staying on the goal line following a penalty corner. She collected a Frary rebound and potted her fourth goal of the season. Patrizio completed her second hat trick of the year at 53:34. She collected a rebound in front of the goal and buried a shot for her 12th of the season.
 
From the opening whistle, William Smith dominated the Golden Flyers, owning a 27-4 shot advantage. The Herons gained nine penalty corners to Nazareth's five.
 
Biz Chirco played the first half for William Smith and made two saves. Emily King and Amy Feda split time in the second half. Nazareth's Lauren Devine played the opening 24:37 and made four saves before Kimber Nourse came on in relief to play the final 45:23, turning aside nine shots.
 
The Herons return to action this weekend, Sept. 19-20, when they host the annual William Smith Classic on McCooey Field. William Smith will play its first match at 11 a.m. against Manhattanville.