GENEVA, N.Y.- The William Smith College hockey team, which is receiving votes in the latest USCHO.com poll, extended its winning streak to 10 games with a 2-1 win over Utica at The Cooler this afternoon. The streak matches the longest in program history, the Herons won 10 straight to open the 2018-19 season.
 
Senior Gina Scibetta recorded a goal and an assist to lead the way for William Smith (17-7-0, 13-2-0). She extended her point streak to 12 games and now has 39 points this season, one behind her single-season record. First-year Julianna Gong also scored for the Herons. Junior Olivia Williams started in goal and made 34 saves as she earned her 12th win of the season.
 
Morgan Leib notched a goal for the Pioneers (9-14-1, 9-5-1). Bria Reilly started in goal and made 30 saves.
 
Scibetta opened the scoring at the 3:55 mark of the first period. She deked around a defender and wristed a shot from the slot past Reilly for her team leading 16th goal of the season. Juniors Jules Kennedy and Emily Martino were credited with assists on the power-play goal. Less than three minutes later, William Smith doubled its lead on Gong's 13th tally of the season. She collected a leading pass from Scibetta and slid a shot past Reilly. It was Gong's 32nd point of the season, which breaks the Herons' rookie scoring record set by Abbey  Luth last season. Scibetta's 23rd assist of the season breaks Krista Federow's record of 22 during the 2017-18 season.
 
Lexi Stanisewski had Utica's best opportunity of the opening period, but her shot from the right faceoff circle was turned aside by Williams.
 
Gong nearly gave William Smith a 3-0 lead in the opening minute of the second period.  She carried the puck into offensive zone, skated into the right faceoff circle and fired a shot off the right goal post.
 
Leib broke up the shutout bid at the 10:55 mark of the second period. She forced a turnover in the offensive zone and snapped a shot past Williams for her fifth goal of the season. It was unassisted. Following the goal, Utica continued to apply the pressure in the offensive zone, but could not find the equalizer. Just over a minute later, Georgiana Santullo had a shot from the slot stopped by Williams.
 
Neither team scored in a tightly contested third period. The Pioneers emerged with a 17-12 advantage in shots on goal in the frame. Caley Susitti had Utica's best chance of the period, but Williams was there to make a glove save.

Utica finished the game with a 35-32 edge in shots on goal. The Herons were 1-for-5 on the power play and the Pioneers were 0-for-4 with the extra attacker.
 
William Smith will conclude the regular season tomorrow, Feb. 23, when it welcomes Nazareth to The Cooler. Faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. With a victory tomorrow, the Herons have a chance to clinch at least a share of its first UCHC regular season title.