GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College ice hockey team knocked off Plymouth State 1-0 in New England Hockey Conference contest at The Cooler this evening. The Herons snapped a  six-game losing streak to improve to 3-8-0 overall and 2-5-0 in league play.
 
Mackenzie O'Neil scored the game-winning goal in the first period. Amanda Aalto made 20 saves as she earned her second shutout of the season.
 
Olivia Petito played 58:43 minutes in goal for the Panthers (4-5-1, 2-3-0). She made 27 saves.
 
A tightly contested game from the opening whistle, William Smith finished the contest with a slight 28-20 edge in shots on goal. Plymouth State had the game's only power play but could not convert with the extra attacker.
 
Emma Faso had the game's first scoring opportunity at the 1:32 mark of the first period. She fired a shot from the slot that was turned aside by Petito. Two minutes later, Faso again had a chance denied by Petito. Plymouth State's first scoring chance came at the 4:22 mark of the opening period. Georgia McLellan's attempt from the point was saved by Aalto. Just before the 10-minute mark of the frame, Brit Foster ripped a shot from the high slot off of the left goal post.
 
William Smith opened the scoring at the 17:35 mark of the first period. O'Neil wristed a shot into the upper left corner of the cage. Mia LaPlante and Izzy Friedman were credited with assists on O'Neil's first collegiate goal.
 
The Panthers seized momentum in the early stages of the second period. Marissa Pickman and Robyn Grant had chances from the left faceoff circle turned aside by Aalto. O'Neil nearly added her second goal of the game at the eight-minute mark of the middle period. Her shot from the high slot hit the goal post. William Smith piled the pressure on in the closing stages of the second period, but they could not get a second shot past Petito.
 
Plymouth State controlled the early play in the third period, but Aalto stood tall to preserve the shutout. The Panthers' lone power play came in the second period, but the Panthers could only manage one shot on goal with the extra attacker.
 
William Smith will be back in action tomorrow, Dec. 4, when it welcomes Castleton to the Cooler. Faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.