GENEVA, N.Y.-The fourth-ranked William Smith College soccer team scored a pair of second half goals to secure a 3-1 Homecoming victory over Skidmore on Cozzens Field this afternoon. With the win, the Herons are now 6-1-1 overall and 2-0-0 in Liberty League play.
 
William Smith came out of the gate strong, applying pressure on Skidmore right from the opening whistle. Junior Mariah Deschino opened the scoring in the fourth minute with her first goal of the season. She collected a crossing pass from first-year Katrine Berg and one-timed a shot into the back of the net. Three minutes later, junior Amanda Adams had a golden scoring chance turned aside by a diving Ava Keller. Skidmore (5-2-2, 0-2-0) tied the game in the 20th minute. Brianna Worobel collected a bouncing ball in the box and buried a shot past Amanda Kesler for her second goal of the season.
 
Junior Merilyn Hinrichs had a couple of chances late in the half but was unable to convert. In the 42nd minute, Seneca Blakely-Armitage fired a shot off the crossbar, but the play was ruled dead because she was offsides.
 
In the 48th minute, Senior Phoebe Wade gave William Smith a 2-1 lead with her first goal of the season. She collected a bouncing ball in the box and slid a shot past Keller into the back of the net. Sophomore Sarah Gray rounded out the scoring with her first goal of the season. She redirected a crossing pass from junior Merilyn Hinrichs across the goal line.  
 
The Herons dominated the stat sheet, outshooting the Thoroughbreds 22-3, including a 10-0 margin in the second half.  William Smith also earned a 9-0 edge in corner kicks.
 
Sophomore Amanda Kesler played 84 minutes in goal and made a save.  Fellow sophomore Justine Pearson came on for the final six minutes and did not face a shot. Ava Keller played all 90 minutes in goal and made five saves for Skidmore.
 
The Herons will be back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 2, when they welcome Ithaca to Cozzens Field. The game is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.