GENEVA, N.Y.-The William Smith College ice hockey team was defeated by Nazareth 3-1 in a United Collegiate Hockey Conference contest at The Cooler this afternoon. The Herons wrap up the regular season with a 16-7-2 overall record and a 12-4-2 mark in conference play.
 
Sophomore Julia Mings scored the goal for the Herons. Fellow sophomore Olivia Williams started in goal and made 23 saves. With the win, the Golden Flyers (19-4-2, 13-4-1) clinched a first round bye in the UCHC Tournament. Hailey Redders (2a) had a game-high two points in the victory. Adrianna Brehm made 32 saves as she earned her 16th win of the season.
 
Emily Kromer opened the scoring for Nazareth at the 3:58 mark of the first period. She one-timed a shot from the right goal post past Williams for her 13th goal of the season. Redders was credited with an assist on the goal.
 
Neither team found the back of the net in the second period. The Herons emerged from the middle period with a 10-5 edge in shots on goal.
 
William Smith tied the game at one at the 3:50 mark of the third period. Following a defensive zone faceoff, Mings picked up a loose puck at her own blue line, raced the length of the rink, deked around a defender and slid a backhand past Brehm. It was Mings' 16th goal of the season. Sophomore Marykate Martino won the faceoff forward and Mings got to the puck before a Golden Flyer defender.
 
Kromer nearly scored a second goal for Nazareth at the 11:20 mark. With Nazareth on a power play, Kromer found herself alone in the left faceoff circle with a gaping net open in front of her. She fired a one-timer on goal but Williams made a spectacular post-to-post save to keep the game tied 1-1.
 
The Golden Flyers edged in front with a short-handed goal at the 13:42 mark of the third period. Hanna Tulchinsky forced a turnover along the boards and poked the loose puck up to Nikolle Van Stralen. Van Stralen carried it down the left wing, into the offensive zone and cut to the center of the ice. She deked around Williams and wristed a shot into the back of the net. It was Van Stralen's eighth goal of the season.  Nazareth iced the game with an empty-net goal with 13 seconds remaining in regulation. Keeley Rose fired a shot from her own blue line into the open goal. Redders and Stephanie Kubis were credited with assists on the goal.
 
William Smith finished the game with a 33-26 edge in shots on goal. Neither team had a power-play goal. William Smith was 0-for-4 and Nazareth was 0-for-5.
 
The Herons finished the regular season third in the UCHC standings. William Smith will host Neumann next Saturday, Feb. 23, in a UCHC Quarterfinal game. Faceoff at The Cooler is scheduled for 4 p.m.