GENESEO, N.Y.- The second-ranked William Smith College soccer team edged Geneseo 2-1 in a non-conference contest at College Stadium this afternoon. With the win the Herons are now 4-0-0 to start the season.
 
William Smith took control of the game right from the opening whistle but could not solve the Knights' defense in the opening 45 minutes. The Herons finished the half with a 10-4 edge in shots. First-year Julia Berg had a great scoring opportunity in the 17th minute but a Geneseo defender cleared the shot off the goal line. Two minutes later, junior Amanda Adams had a shot targeted for the upper right corner that Julia McDonald punched away at the last second.
 
William Smith opened the scoring in the 61st minute when junior Sheila McQullen scored her first goal of the season. She one-timed a crossing pass from Adams into the upper right corner of the goal. Junior Merilyn Hinrichs doubled the lead just over a minute later. She collected a leading pass from first-year Seneca Blakely-Armitage and slid a shot past McDonald into the lower left corner of the net. It was Hinrichs' second goal of the season.
 
The Knights (4-2-0) cut the deficit in half on a strike from Domenica Piccoli. She carried the ball into the box and flicked a shot over a charging Amanda Kesler. It was Piccoli's fourth goal of the season. Taylor Clar was credited with an assist on the goal.
 
William Smith finished the game with an 18-7 edge in shots and a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Kesler started in goal and made two saves for William Smith. McDonald played all 90 minutes in the Geneseo goal and made nine saves.
 
The Herons will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 18, when they take on No. 16 Misericordia. The match on Cozzens Field is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.