GENEVA, N.Y.—The University of Southern Maine scored three goals in the third period as they defeated William Smith 4-1 in a New England Hockey Conference contest at The Cooler this evening. It was the NEHC debut for the Herons.
 
Mia LaPlante scored for William Smith (1-2-0, 0-1-0). Amanda Aalto played all 60 minutes in goal for the Herons and made 39 saves.
 
Shannon Colbert led the way for the Huskies (2-1-0, 1-0-0) with three points on a goal and two assists. Eryn Taber added a pair of assists for Southern Maine.  Haley McKim played all 60 minutes in goal for the Huskies and made 33 saves.
 
William Smith had the first flurry of chances to begin today's game, but McKim was able to withstand the early pressure, making a pair of blocker saves in the first two minutes of the game.
 
The Huskies opened the scoring at the 3:02 mark of the first period. Madelyn McLeish broke into the offensive zone and ripped a wrist shot from the slot over Aalto's blocker and into the back of the net. Zoe Solomons and Madison Chagnon were credited with assists on the goal. The Herons tied the game less than a minute later. LaPlante picked up a loose puck behind the goal and snapped a shot from a difficult angle off of a Southern Maine player's stick and across the goal line. The unassisted tally was LaPlante's first goal of the season.
 
Just before the midway point of the first period, Southern Maine's Georgie Snow fired a shot off the goal post. The Huskies continued to pressure in the offensive zone and drew a penalty. On the ensuing power play, Southern Maine peppered the Herons with shots, but Aalto was up to the task making five saves on the player advantage.
 
Neither team found the back of the net in the second period. The Herons finished the stanza with a 14-7 edge in shots on goal. Lauren Jackson and Julianna Gong had the best chances, but McKim stopped the point-blank opportunities.
 
Southern Maine scored the game-winning goal 22 seconds into the third period. Rylie Binette banged home a rebound for her first goal of the season. Taber and Colbert were credited with assists on the goal. Taber's shot was blocked by a Heron defender. Binette picked up the loose puck and flipped the shot past Aalto. Just over eight minutes later Shannon Douglas gave the Huskies a 3-1 led. She redirected a shot from Taber across the goal line. Colbert was credited with the secondary assist on the goal. Colbert rounded out the scoring at the 12:39 mark of the third period. Her second goal of the season was assisted by Kate Clovin and Brianna Doty.
 
Southern Maine finished the game with a 43-34 edge in shots on goal. Neither team was able to capitalize on their power play opportunities. William Smith was 0-for-4 and the Huskies were 0-for-5 with the extra attacker.
 
The Herons will be back in action tomorrow, Nov. 6, when it welcomes Salem State to The Cooler. Faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.