GENEVA, N.Y.—The seventh-ranked William Smith College scored once in each half on the way to a 2-0 shutout of Hardin-Simmons University in the first round of the Stand On Their Shoulders Invitational.
 
Senior Megan Barwick and sophomore Julia Keogh notched the Heron (1-0-0) goals while a rebuilt defense that graduated three of four starters kept the Cowgirls (0-1-0) penned in. First-year goalkeeper Amanda Kesler went the distance in goal, making one save while frustrating HSU's attack with timely interceptions of crossing passes.
 
"I give a lot of credit to the back four today and to Amanda," Head Coach Aliceann Wilber said. "I think that's a great performance for that group."
 
The team's battled through an evenly matched first half with each side taking four shots through the opening 44 minutes. Keogh nearly opened the scoring in the 33^rd minute, ringing a chip shot off the crossbar. A minute later, Kesler made the lone stop of the half, taking away a would-be goal from junior Taylor Bernal. The Herons were able to seize the momentum going into halftime thanks to Barwick's 29th career goal.
 
The Cowgirls had the ball at their feet with a chance to clear it out of the box, but sophomore Meghan McKenna managed to hold it in the attacking third, firing a pass to a cutting Barwick, who played the ball to her feet and shot inside the six to the back post, giving William Smith the lead.
 
"I thought the build up to that play was good, actually, I though the build up on both goals was quality stuff," Wilber said.
 
The second goal came in the 80th minute. Senior Sarah Olick-Sutphen received a pass in front of the Heron bench, outran her defender to the end line and crossed it into the six. Keogh was there to rocket a shot inside the near post, doubling the home team's advantage.
 
William Smith closed out the win with a strong defensive effort that did not allow HSU to get off a shot in the second half.
 
Senior goalkeeper Caitlin Christiansen had one save for HSU.
 
The invitational concludes tomorrow when the Cowgirls take on the University of Rochester (1-0-0) at 1 p.m. and the Herons battle Stevenson University (1-0-0) at 3:30 p.m. The Yellowjackets defeated the Mustangs 1-0 in today's first match.