ATTLEBORO, Mass.—The William Smith College ice hockey team was edged by Johnson & Wales 5-3 in a New England Hockey Conference contest this afternoon. With the loss, the Herons are now 2-6-0 overall and 1-5-0 in conference play.
 
Mia LaPlante led the way for William Smith with two goals. Marykate Martino also scored for the Herons. Amanda Aalto started and played all 60 minutes in goal. She made 34 saves.
 
Koryn Russell had a pair of goals and Jianna Truppi had two assists in the victory for the Wildcats (5-3-0, 3-3-0). Anna Maulson started and played 52 minutes in goal for Johnson & Wales. She made 18 saves. Sofia Tamayo came on for the final eight minutes and made seven saves.
 
LaPlante opened the scoring at the 2:30 mark of the first period. Her third goal of the season was assisted by Lauren Jackson. LaPlante slipped a shot past Maulson from the left faceoff circle.
 
Eight minutes later, Johnson & Wales tied the game at one. Brooke Dineen redirected a shot from Truppi past Aalto. Kaitlin Boyer also recorded an assist on the goal.  The teams finished the first period with 10 shots each.
 
The Herons regained the lead on a power-play goal 27 seconds into the second period. Marykate Martino wristed a shot from the slot past Maulson. Her first goal of the season was assisted by Emily Martino and Sydney Lester. Johnson and Wales tied the game just past the midway point of the second period. Soph Hamel snapped a shot past Aalto. Cassidy Rockwood was credited with an assist on Hamel's first goal of the season.
 
LaPlante's team-leading fourth goal of the season gave William Smith a 3-2 lead at the 8:28 mark of the third period. Emily Rourke picked up an assist on the goal. Russell scored the game's next two goals. She scored the game-tying goal 67 seconds after LaPlante's goal. It was assisted by Madison Matrasko and Truppi. With 2:30 left in regulation, Russell pocketed what would prove to be the game-winning goal. Haylee Owen and Hailey Wiltshire notched assists on the goal. Kaylin Garner added an insurance goal with 13 seconds left in the game. Wiltshire had an assist on the goal.
 
Johnson & Wales finished the game with a 34-25 edge in shots on goal. The Wildcats were 1-for-4 on the power play and William Smith was 1-for-5 with the extra attacker.
 
The Herons will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 23 when it travels to take on Oswego in a non-conference contest. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.