SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Saratoga Springs native Emily Leonard scored a pair of second half goals to lift the William Smith College field hockey team to a 3-2 victory at Skidmore College this afternoon. Her second goal completed the Heron rally from a 2-1 third quarter deficit.
 
In addition to Leonard's second half heroics, Kate Barilla scored in the first half and Rebecca Mantione earned an assist on Leonard's first goal. Goalie Kristen McCormick earned the win with four saves.
 
The Herons (5-8, 1-4 Liberty League) opened the scoring in the 15th minute. William Smith earned a penalty corner as time expired on the first quarter. Libby Maxwell fired a shot that was saved by Thoroughbreds' goalie Jess Gaetgens. Sofia Pattillo pounced on the rebound and sent a shot toward the open net that was blocked by the body of a Skidmore defender who had fallen on the turf. The infraction resulted in the Herons sending Barilla to the penalty spot, where she tallied her first goal of the season. Minutes earlier, Barilla made a defensive save to keep the match scoreless.
 
Skidmore (6-9, 1-4) equalized six minutes before halftime. On a penalty corner, Bella Faber took a feed from Sofia Marshall and struck her third goal of the season. The Thoroughbreds took the lead nine minutes into the second half. CC Wetter set up Mariah Redler with a pass in front. It was Redler's ninth goal of the season.
 
Less than a minute later, Rebecca Mantione reclaimed the momentum for the Herons, dribbling through traffic in the attack zone to a point wide of the left post, just off the end line, where she sent a pass into the middle for Leonard, who just had to sweep the pass into a wide-open cage for her first goal of the season.
 
Early in the fourth quarter, Skidmore made a bid for the lead. On a penalty corner, Carrie Hughes unleashed a screaming shot headed for the lower left corner of the goal, but McCormick made a spectacular diving stop to keep the match tied.
 
Mantione played a role in Leonard's second goal as well. She dribbled to nearly the same spot as before, but this time took the shot herself. Gaetgens made the save, but Leonard converted the rebound into a 3-2 William Smith lead.
 
The Herons played the final 5:50 without allowing another Skidmore shot.
 
For the match, shots were even at 10 apiece, while the home team had a 7-5 edge in penalty corners.
 
Gaetgens finished with six saves in 58 minutes of work. The Thoroughbreds played the final two minutes with an empty net.
 
William Smith will return home to host RPI at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22.