POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.—The sixth-ranked William Smith College soccer team scored three goals in the second half as it knocked off Vassar 4-1 in a Liberty League contest on Gordon Field this afternoon. With their 12th straight victory, William Smith is now 13-1-1 overall and 8-0-0 in Liberty League play.
William Smith clinched its 14th consecutive Liberty League regular season title with the win and secured home-field advantage in the conference tournament.
The Herons were led by
Merilyn Hinrichs, who had a goal and an assist in the second half.
Amanda Adams,
Sheila McQuillen and
Julia Keogh also scored for William Smith.
Amanda Kesler played all 90 minutes in goal, recording three saves as she earned her 10th win of the season.
Riley Lipman scored for the Brewers (8-5-1, 3-3-1). Claire Mackenzie started in goal for Vassar and made seven saves in 90 minutes of action.
Adams opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Her sixth goal of the season came on the Herons' first shot of the game.
Less than a minute later, Vassar nearly netted the equalizer, but Skylar Herrera-Ross's shot was stopped by Kesler.
In the 21st minute,
Julia Berg had a header turned aside by Mackenzie. The Herons continued to apply the pressure in the offensive half of the field, but the Vassar goalie stopped a point blank chance from Adams in the 33rd minute. McQuillen and
Katrine Berg had shots trickle wide in the final five minutes of the opening half.
William Smith extended its lead to two goals in the 47th minute. McQuillen fired home a rebound to notch her eighth goal of the season. Four minutes later, Hinrichs pocketed her fifth goal of the season, firing a shot into the upper left corner of the cage.
Vassar ended the shutout bid in the 53rd minute. Lipman chipped a shot past Kesler. Violet Munnelly was credited with an assist on the goal. It was the first goal that William Smith had allowed in 954:43 minutes.
Keogh wrapped up the scoring with her team and Liberty League leading 15th goal of the season. Keogh's 15 goals this season are tied for ninth on William Smith's single-season list. It is the most goals by a Heron since Brelynn Nasypany '11 had 18 goals in 2010. Hinrichs was credited with an assist on the 77th-minute goal.
William Smith finished the game with a 22-5 edge in shots and an 8-0 edge in corner kicks.
The Herons wrap up their regular season next Saturday, Oct. 30, when they travel to Canton, New York, to take on St. Lawrence. The game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in the North Country.
