BUFFALO, N.Y.-The William Smith College ice hockey team defeated Buffalo State 2-1 in a non-conference contest at Buffalo State's Ice Arena this evening. With the win, the Herons are now 7-2-0 overall on the season while the Bengals fall to 1-8-0 overall.
 
Six different players recorded a point in the win for William Smith. Senior Kate Klimaszewski and first-year Laura Hill tallied the goals for the Herons. Junior Olivia Williams made 24 saves in 60 minutes of action in goal as she earned her sixth win of the season.
 
Natasha Steinle scored for Buffalo State. Bri Gawronski started in goal and made 23 saves in just over 58 minutes of action.
 
William Smith emerged from a tightly contested first period with a 1-0 lead despite being out shot 9-7. The Bengals had the game's first scoring opportunity, but Gianna Brigaante's shot from the slot was stopped by Williams.  At the opposite end of the rink, junior Emily Martino had a one-timer from the point robbed Gawronski.
 
Klimaszewski opened the scoring just past the halfway point of the first period. With the teams playing four-on-four, she pounced on a rebound and flipped the puck across the goal line. Her first goal of the season was assisted by juniors Julia Mings and Jules Kennedy.
 
Hill pocketed her third goal of the season at the 18:39 mark of the second period to give William Smith a 2-0 lead. She wristed a shot from the right faceoff circle past Gawronski and into the back of the net. Martino and first-year Julianna Gong were credited with assists on the goal.
 
Steinle broke up the shutout bid at the 12:44 mark of the third period. She forced a turnover in the offensive end, deked around a defender and wristed a shot into the top corner of the goal. The unassisted goal was her fifth of the season.
 
Both teams finished the game with 25 shots on goal. William Smith was 0-for-3 on the power play and Buffalo State was 0-for -4 with the extra attacker.
 
The Herons will wrap up the 2019 portion of its schedule next weekend, Dec. 6-7, when it heads to New London, Conn., for a pair of games against Connecticut College.