GENEVA, N.Y. —The William Smith field hockey team exploded, scoring three second half goals for a 4-1 Liberty League win over Rensselaer on McCooey Field. Four different Herons scored, including junior Sophie Craig who recorded one goal and one assist.
 
William Smith (5-8, 2-3) out shot the Engineers 17-11, and Rensselaer had an 8-7 advantage in penalty corners. First-years Mackenzie Wodka and Lauren Jackson, along with sophomore Emma Schafer found the back of the cage, while sophomore Elizabeth Jacobia and first-year Kate Barilla recorded assists.
 
Brianna Duba tallied a goal for Rensselaer (0-14, 0-4).
 
The Herons controlled the ball from the opening whistle, firing off three shots in as many minutes. Craig found Wodka wide open running up the right sideline, and Wodka ripped a shot past the Engineers goalkeeper Jen Richardson. Wodka leads the Herons with five goals and four assists. Rensselaer had a series of four penalty corners, but were unable to get past the Heron defense.
 
In the second quarter, there were few scoring opportunities. The Herons were able to get two shots off but they were blocked by the Engineers' defense.
 
William Smith began the second half with three penalty corners. The Herons were unable to convert on the penalty corners, but right after Jacobia found Craig in front of the goal. Craig slotted the ball past Richardson to record her fourth goal of the season. The Engineers got five shots off in the third quarter, but were unable to get past Heron goalkeeper junior Alexandra DeVito.
 
William Smith added two more goals in the fourth quarter. Jacobia inserted a penalty corner to Craig. Craig passed it off to Barilla on the other side of the arc, and rattled off a shot. Jackson got her stick on it to redirect the ball between Emma Lewis' legs, and into the back of the cage. 16 seconds later, the Herons connected a series of passes in front of the goal. The ball ended up loose right in front of the cage, and Schafer was able to swipe the ball into the goal to record her fourth goal this season.
 
The Engineers added a goal with four minutes left in the game. Duba had the ball on the end line, and whacked a shot that went through the Herons' defense, and into the back of the cage.
 
Richardson made seven saves in 60 minutes, and DeVito stopped four shots in 58 minutes for the win.
 
William Smith will be back in action when it hosts Ithaca Friday, Oct. 25. The Liberty League match is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. on McCooey Field.