William Smith College sophomore Megan Richard notched two goals as the Heron soccer team cruised to a 4-0 win over Clarkson in a Liberty League game played on Hantz Turf Field in Potsdam, N.Y., this afternoon. William Smith improves to 12-0-0 and 4-0-0 in conference play.
 
It was the Herons' sixth straight shutout, and eighth shutout of the season. Junior Evie Manning notched a goal and an assist in the win. The Golden Knights fall to 4-8-0 overall and 0-4-0 in Liberty League play.
 
In the 32nd minute, a William Smith cross bounced off a Clarkson defender and found the back of the Golden Knights' net. The own goal gave the Herons a 1-0 lead.
 
Clarkson had a chance to tie the game in the 37th minute when Madison Kather made a long run past two Heron defenders, but Kather's shot from the top of the box was saved by Heron sophomore goalkeeper Veronica Romines.
 
In the second half, William Smith struck quickly to put the game out of reach. In the 49th minute, another William Smith cross, this time from senior Emma Diehl, ricocheted off a Clarkson defender and fell to Richard who scored her fourth goal this season. Richard added a second goal in the 51st minute, upping her season goal total to five, when she capitalized on a corner kick. The Herons added one more goal in the 58th minute when Manning scored off senior Kara Shue's cross from the left wing. Manning has seven goals this seaosn, and Shue now leads the team with 26 points on nine goals and eight assists.
 
William Smith held a 17-2 advantage in shots. The Herons took all seven of the game's corner kicks. Elyse Green made eight stops while Romines made two stops in 75:04. First-year Alessandra Bryan played the final 14:56 for the Herons.
 
William Smith will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 14, when it hosts Bard for another Liberty League match at 4 p.m.