WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.—The William Smith College ice hockey team was edged by Williams College, which was receiving votes in the USCHO.com poll, 2-0, in a non-conference contest at Lansing-Chapman Rink this evening.
 
Erin Murray started in goal for the Herons (3-9-1) and made a career-high 39 saves.
 
Five different players recorded a point for the Ephs (4-2-0). Meghan Halloran and Ellia Chiang scored the Williams' goals. Chloe Heiting started in goal and stopped all 27 shots she faced as she earned her second shutout of the season.
 
William Smith carried the early momentum in the game after earning the game's first power-play opportunity just over a minute into the game. The Herons had four shots in the first two minutes of the game but were unable to sneak a shot past Heiting. Emma Faso had the best chance in the opening sequence. She fired a shot from the left faceoff circle that was turned aside by Heiting's glove. Laura Hill jumped on the rebound, but her shot was stopped by the goalie. The William Smith pressure forced the Ephs to take a second penalty. With a two-skater advantage, the Herons continued to apply the pressure in the offensive end, but they could not find the back of the net.
 
Williams nearly opened the scoring at the 5:56 mark of the first period, but Murray made a glove save to keep the game scoreless. The Ephs broke the deadlock at the 18:49 mark of the first period on Chiang's third goal of the season. She wristed a shot from the slot past Murray. Brynn Puppe and Robin Kitazono were awarded assists on the goal.
 
The goaltenders stole the show in the second period. Murray made 13 saves to keep it a one-goal game. At the opposite end of the rink, Heiting made 10 saves.  Julianna Gong had William Smith's best chance in the middle period. She skated into the offensive zone, deked around a defender and fired a shot on goal. Heiting made a glove save on the scoring attempt. Mackenzie O'Neil also had a slap shot from the right faceoff circle turned aside by the Williams' goalie.
 
The Ephs added an insurance goal at the 2:49 mark of the third period. Halloran fired a shot from the point past Murray for her fourth goal of the season. Avery Dunn was awarded an assist on the goal.
 
Williams finished the game with a 41-27 edge in shots on goal. Neither team found the back of the net on the power play. Williams was 0-for-4 on the power play and the Herons were 0-for-3 with the extra skater.
 
The Herons and Ephs will be back in action tomorrow, Dec. 12, when they wrap up the weekend series. Faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Williamstown.