GENEVA, N.Y.—Merilyn Hinrichs scored the game-winning goal with 3:25 remaining in the second overtime as the third-ranked William Smith College soccer team rallied to defeat Ithaca 3-2 in the Liberty League Championship game on Cozzens Field this afternoon. With the win, the Herons captured their 14th consecutive Liberty League tournament title.
 
In the 107th minute, Hinrichs intercepted a clearing pass, dribbled around a defender and fired a left-footed shot off the crossbar. The spin off of the crossbar sent the ball into the right corner of the cage and straight down just over the goal line. Hinrichs was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Performer.  She also had an assist in the Herons' semifinal win over RIT.
 
The Herons, the top seed in the tournament, improve to 16-1-1 overall and earn the Liberty League's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.  The entire NCAA Division III women's soccer championship field will be announced on Monday, Nov. 8, with a selection show on NCAA.com at 1 p.m.
 
The early stages of the first half were contained to the midfield with the teams feeling each other out. Sheila McQuillen nearly opened the scoring in the seventh minute, but her shot was stopped by Claire Reader. At the opposite end of the pitch, Rosie Bostain fired a shot just over the crossbar. Amanda Adams had a scoring chance smothered by Reader in the 26th minute.
 
Ithaca (14-4-0) opened the scoring in the 30th minute. Rosie Bostain stole the ball off a defender's foot, dribbled into the 18-yard box and chipped a shot over Amanda Kesler's arms. It was her fifth goal of the season.
 
Down a goal, William Smith pushed for the equalizer, but Hinrichs had a shot blocked and the follow-up attempt from McQuillen was stopped by Reader. The Herons also had a couple of shots blocked in the 18-yard box by Bomber defenders.
 
After some halftime adjustments, including bringing on goalie Kirsten Nelson to play the second half. William Smith jumped all over Ithaca in the opening stages of the second half. Katrine Berg had a shot from 30 yards out blocked. McQuillen jumped on the rebound, but the shot was stopped by Reader. In the 62nd minute, Julia Berg's free-kick just missed the crossbar.
 
The Herons tied the game in the 80th minute. Julia Keogh collected a rebound in the 18-yard box and chipped the shot over Reader. It was Keogh's team-leading 19th goal of the season. She now needs just one goal to match William Smith's single-season record.
 
Nine minutes later, Ithaca regained the lead on Alex Epifani's sixth goal of the season. She chipped a shot from 20 yards out that was mishandled by Nelson and trickled across the goal line. The Herons would not go quietly though. Katrine Berg tied the game 39 seconds later with her first goal of the season. She blasted a shot from just outside of the six-yard box into the lower-left corner of the cage. McQuillen was credited with the assist on the goal.
 
William Smith carried the play in the overtime periods, outshooting Ithaca 6-0. In the first extra session Amanda Adams broke down the left wing, but her shot landed just outside of the left post. McQuillen nearly won the game in the 94th minute, but Reader denied her with a diving stop.
 
The Herons finished the game with a 29-7 edge in shots and an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Kesler earned the victory making a save in 61:35 minutes of action. Nelson played 45 minutes.
 
Reader started and played all 106:35 minutes for Ithaca, making seven saves.