GENEVA, N.Y.- The William Smith College hockey team was edged by Nazareth 4-1 at The Cooler this afternoon. The Herons conclude their regular season with a 17-8-0 overall record and a 13-3-0 mark in conference play. The Golden Flyers are now 18-4-3 overall with a 12-2-2 mark in conference play.
 
First-year Laura Hill scored for William Smith. Junior Olivia Williams started in goal and made 17 saves in just over 29 minutes of action. Sophomore Amanda Aalto came on in relief and recorded 19 saves.
 
Abbey  Luth recorded a game-high three points on a goal and three assists in the victory. Madison Nichols (1g, 1a) also had a multi-point game. Adrianna Brehm started in goal and made 22 saves.
 
Nazareth jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 6:24 mark of the first period. Delaney Carle one-timed a shot from the right faceoff circle past Williams for her first goal of the season. Hailey Redders and Luth notched assists on the power-play goal.
 
First-year Mia LaPlante had William Smith's best chance of the first period. She broke down the right wing and wristed a shot on goal that was turned aside by Brehm. LaPlante collected her own rebound and had her follow up shot stopped by Brehm.
 
The Golden Flyers took control of the game in the second period, outshooting William Smith 14-7. Nazareth took a 2-0 lead on Nikolle Van Stralen's 10th goal of the year. She picked up a rebound in the slot and snapped a shot past Williams. Madison Schroeder and Gabriella DeMeo were credited with assists on the goal.
 
Thirty seconds later, Hill broke up Brehm's shutout bid with her eighth goal of the season. Hill collected a pass from junior Julia Mings and slipped a backhanded shot across the goal line.
 
Nazareth regained a two-goal lead on Nichols' 13th goal of the season. She poked a loose puck from the low slot past Williams. Luth notched an assist on the goal.
 
The Golden Flyers iced the game on Luth's 15th goal of the season. Stephanie Kubis and Nichols were credited with assists. Kubis fired a shot from the point that was turned aside by Aalto. Luth pounced on the rebound and flipped a shot into the back of the net.
 
Nazareth finished the game with a 40-23 edge in shots on goal. Both teams had three power-play chances. The Golden Flyers were 1-for-3 with the extra skater and the Herons were 0-for-3.
 
William Smith and Nazareth tied for second in the UCHC North Division standings with 26 points each. In the quarterfinals, the No. 1 seed in the North will play the No. 4 seed in the North and the No. 2 seed will host the No.3 seed. By virtue of sweeping the season series, the Golden Flyers secured the No. 2 seed will host William Smith next Saturday, Feb. 29, at Bill Gray's IcePlex.