MORRISVILLE, N.Y.—The William Smith College ice hockey team dropped a non-conference contest to Morrisville 2-0 at the Morrisville IcePlex this evening. The Herons fall to 2-8-0 on the season.
Erin Murray earned her second consecutive start in goal and made 20 saves in 60 minutes of action for William Smith.
Alana McDonald led the way for the Mustangs (3-5-1), scoring both goals. Mak Ganje stopped all 21 shots she faced as she earned the shutout.
Morrisville nearly opened the scoring 22 seconds into the game, but Kendra Johnston's shot from the slot was turned aside by Murray. 10 seconds later Kendra Kalinowski had a shot from the point smothered by Murray. McDonald opened the scoring at the 9:24 mark of the first period. She picked up a loose puck in the slot and chipped it past Murray. Her fourth goal of the season was assisted by Johnston and Rhys Brown.
In the closing stages of the first period,
Mia LaPlante and
Lauren Jackson had chances to tie the game, but Ganje made a pair of key saves.
The teams traded chances to start the second period. At the 2:10 mark, Emma Thompson's shot from the left faceoff circle was stopped by Murray. At the opposite end of the rink,
Izzy Friedman nearly tied the game, but Ganje made a glove save to preserve the shutout.
McDonald added an insurance goal at the 16:48 mark of the second period. She broke into the offensive zone and wristed a shot from the slot past Murray. Her fifth goal of the season was assisted by Julianna Giacabbo.
The Herons carried the play in the third period, posting an 8-1 edge in shots on goal. Just under six minutes into the period,
Taylor Ettore had a shot from the right faceoff circle stopped by Ganje.
Brit Foster's follow-up attempt was also stopped by Ganje.
Morrisville had a chance to ice the game with 1:15 remaining in regulation, but Rhys Brown's shot hit the goal post.
The Mustangs finished the game with a 22-21 edge in shots on goal. The Herons had the game's only two power-play opportunities, but could not find the back of the net with the extra skater.
William Smith will be back in action on Friday, Dec. 3, when it welcomes Plymouth State to The Cooler. Faceoff in the New England Hockey Conference contest is scheduled for 7 p.m.
