Grantham, Pa.- The William Smith College field hockey team was defeated by top-ranked Messiah 4-0 in the regular season finale for both teams. The Herons complete the regular season with a 12-5 overall record while the Falcons finished the year with a perfect 17-0 record.
 
The defending national champions, Messiah, were led by Hannah Palm, who recorded a hat trick in today's contest. Carissa Gehman finished the game with three assists. Heron senior Maura Moran recorded a pair of defensive saves for William Smith.
 
The Herons had an opportunity to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute but Hannah Wood's blast from the point was wiped off of the line by Mackenzie Brubaker. At the time, the defensive save kept the game scoreless.
 
Palm opened the scoring in the 26th minute. She tipped a centering pass from Kaylor Rosenberry past Emily King. The Falcons doubled their lead when Taylor Holt scored her 10th goal of the season. She collected a rebound in front and fired the shot across the goal line.
 
Palm added a pair of late second half goals to secure the victory for Messiah.  In the 61st minute she fired a shot home from the top of the arc. Two minutes later, Palm tucked a shot inside the right post from the center of the cage. Gehman assisted on both goals.
 
Emily King made four saves in 70 minutes of action in goal for the Herons. At the opposite end of the field. Shelby Landes made a single save for the Falcons.
 
Messiah controlled the game from the opening whistle, outshooting William Smith 21-2. The Falcons earned 10 penalty corners to the Herons three.
 
William Smith will be back in action on Wednesday, Nov. 4. The Herons will travel to Rochester for the Liberty League Semifinals.