GORHAM, MAINE—The William Smith College ice hockey team was edged by Southern Maine 1-0 in a tightly fought New England Hockey Conference contest at USM Ice Arena this afternoon. The Herons are now 4-12-1 overall this season with a 3-7-1 mark in conference play.
 
Amanda Aalto started in goal for the Herons and made 25 saves in just over 59 minutes of action.
 
Amanda Crowley scored in the first period for the Huskies (8-7-0, 6-4-0). Haley McKim started in goal for Southern Maine and made 37 saves.
 
William Smith had the game's first scoring chance. Just before the five-minute mark, Emma Faso and Emma Duffey had shots from the slot turned aside by McKim. Four minutes later, Mackenzie O'Neil's shot from the left faceoff circle was blocked by a Southern Maine defender.
 
Crowley broke the deadlock at the 13:59 mark of the opening period. She picked up a loose puck in the slot and flipped a shot over Aalto. It was her first goal of the season. Georgie Snow was credited with an assist on the tally. One minute later, Madison Chagnon had a golden scoring opportunity denied by Aalto.
 
The goalies stole the show in the second period. Aalto and McKim each had 13 saves in the stanza. Just over five minutes into the period, Lauren Jackson had two point-blank chances turned aside by McKim. At the opposite end of the rink, Aalto robbed Shannon Colbert's breakaway attempt.
 
William Smith turned up the pressure in the third period but could not solve McKim. The Herons outshot Southern Maine 18-7 in the final frame. In the middle part of the period, William Smith came close to burying the equalizer, but McKim made a series of strong saves off of shots from Faso and Jackson. Late in the game, the Herons pulled their goalie in favor of the extra attacker. Sydney Lester and Annabel Ziskin had chances, but McKim again was there to make the save.
 
William Smith finished the game with a 37-26 edge in shots on goal. Both teams were 0-for-1 on the power play.
 
The Herons will be back in action on Jan. 25, when it welcomes Oswego to The Cooler. Faceoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.