GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College field hockey team outshot visiting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, but the Herons couldn't solve the Engineers' goalie, falling 2-0 in a Liberty League match played on McCooey Field this evening. The Herons held a 9-8 edge in shots and a 7-5 advantage in penalty corners, but RPI goalie Jen Richardson turned back all six shots the home team put on goal to record her third shutout of the season. 

The teams played a scoreless first half as William Smith goalie Kristen McCormick posted four stops before the intermission and Richardson had two.

RPI (8-7, 4-2) broke through three and a half minutes into the second half. On a penalty corner, Kaitlyn Stulen inserted to Brianna Duba, who touched the ball into the circle and then ripped a shot into the cage for a 1-0 lead. Richardson was busiest in the third quarter, turning back three promising Heron shots in defense of the lead.

William Smith (5-9, 1-5) kept the pressure on in the fourth quarter, but couldn't find their way past the RPI defense. The Engineers tacked on an insurance goal in the 55th minute, when Lauren McCarthy finished off a scramble in front of the Heron goal.

William Smith will wrap up conference play at noon on Sunday, Oct. 24, when the Herons travel to Vassar (11-3, 4-2).