GENEVA, N.Y.-The William Smith College ice hockey team defeated Stevenson 5-1 in United Collegiate Hockey Conference play at The Cooler this afternoon. With the win the Herons are now 4-0-0 overall and 2-0-0 in conference play this season.
 
Senior Stephanie Hampton led the way for William Smith with three points on a goal and two assists. First-year Abbey Luth had two goals in the victory. Sophomore Olivia Williams started in goal and made 20 saves in 60 minutes of action. Nikki Kendrick scored for the Mustangs (1-4-1, 0-3-1). Ana Holzbach got the start in goal and made 25 saves in just over 33 minutes of work. Catie Darosa made 16 saves in relief.
 
The Herons opened the scoring at the 3:30 mark of the first period when sophomore Alison Weiss collected her first collegiate goal. She picked up a rebound in the slot and flipped the shot past Holzbach. Senior Lindsay Brown was credited with an assist on the goal. William Smith made it 2-0 at the 15:37 mark of the opening period. Hampton picked up a rebound off a blocked shot, deked around a defender and fired a shot past Holzbach. It was her fourth goal of the season. Senior Maura Mulligan was credited with an assist on the goal.
 
The Herons had a chance to extend their lead when they earned a 5-on-3 advantage at the end of the first period. William Smith had three shots on goal during the two skater advantage but could not find the back of the net.
 
The Herons continued to apply the pressure in the offensive zone and took a 3-0 lead at the 11:46 mark of the middle stanza. Julia Mings picked up a rebound and tucked a shot inside the left goal post. It was her first goal of the season. Junior Kate Klimaszewski and sophomore Marykate Martino were credited with assists on the goal. Just under two minutes later, the Herons struck again. Luth banged home a rebound from the low slot to make it 4-0. Mulligan and Hampton were credited with assists on the goal.
 
Stevenson broke up the shutout with a power-play goal of their own at the 15:22 mark of the second period. With two Herons sitting in the penalty box, Casey Storck found Kendrick in the left faceoff circle and Kendrick fired a shot past Williams.
 
Luth scored her second power-play goal of the game half-way through the third period. Her third career goal was assisted by Emily Martino and Hampton. Martino's initial shot from the point was turned aside by Darosa's left pad. Luth, who was in the left faceoff circle, collected the rebound and lifted the shot over the goalie.
 
William Smith finished the game with a 46-21 edge in shots on goal. Both teams scored on the power play. The Herons were 2-for-5 with the extra skater while Stevenson finished the game 1-for-4.
 
William Smith will be back in action next weekend, Nov. 17-18, when it travels to Hershey, Pa., for a pair of UCHC games against Lebanon Valley.