RYE, N.Y.-The William Smith College ice hockey team was defeated by Manhattanville 4-2 in a United Collegiate Hockey Conference contest at the Rye Playland Ice Casino this afternoon. The Herons are now 12-4-0 overall and 10-1-0 in conference play this season.
 
Junior Gina Scibetta led the way for William Smith with a pair of goals. Sophomore Jules Kennedy had a pair of assists. Sophomore Olivia Williams made 22 saves in 58 minutes in goal. The Herons pulled their goalie in favor of the extra attacker for the final two minutes of the game. Nicole Mensi (2g, 1a) and Janet Xu (1g, 2a) had a game-high three points for the Valiants (11-5-2, 7-3-1). Rose Pijaca made 27 saves as she earned her seventh win of the season.
 
The Herons controlled the opening period, earning a 15-4 advantage in shots on goal. William Smith, however, could not find the back of the net. Senior Maura Mulligan had the game's first scoring opportunity 13 seconds into the game. She broke down the left wing, deked around a defender, but had her shot from the slot turned aside by Pijaca. Mulligan had another chance five minutes into the period but once again Pijaca made a glove save.
 
Manhattanville swung momentum in its favor in the second period. The Valiants outshot the Herons 14-7 in the middle period. Zoey Pellowitz opened the scoring at the 12:58 mark with her fourth goal of the season. Xu and Mensi were credited with assists on the goal. Off a faceoff win, Mensi slid a pass to Pellowitz, who fired a shot from the point through traffic and past Williams. Mensi's first goal of the game gave Manhattanville a 2-0 lead. Tianna Lopes was credited with an assist on the goal. It was Mensi's 12th goal of the season.
 
William Smith ended the shutout bid 4:10 into the third period. Scibetta wristed a shot from the right faceoff circle through Pijaca's legs for her 12th goal of the season. Kennedy was credited with an assist on the goal.
 
Manhattanville regained a two goal lead 84 seconds later. Mensi weaved through defenders and snapped a shot from the slot over Williams' blocker. Xu notched an assist on Mensi's 13th goal of the season.
 
Twenty-eight seconds later, Scibetta made it 3-2 with her 13th goal of the season. She poked home a rebound from the low slot. Kennedy set up the goal for her 13th assist of the season.
 
Xu added an insurance goal at the 17:25 mark of the third period to secure the win for Manhattanville. Brayden James was awarded an assist on Xu's fourth goal of the season.
 
William Smith finished the game with a 29-26 edge in shots on goal. Neither team converted on the power play. William Smith was 0-for-4 with the extra attacker and Manhattanville was 0-for-3. The Herons have killed off 24 consecutive penalties.
 
William Smith and Manhattanville will wrap up the season series tomorrow afternoon. Faceoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Playland Ice Casino.