GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith ice hockey team will begin its stretch run this weekend, Jan. 28-29, when it welcomes Johnson and Wales and UMass Boston to The Cooler. The Herons host the Wildcats Friday at 7 p.m. and the Beacons Saturday at 4 p.m.
Fans are welcome at The Cooler. All spectators are asked to monitor their health and stay home if experiencing any COVID symptoms. Spectators are required to wear properly fitting masks while inside The Cooler. Fans who cannot make trip can follow all the action with Live Stats and HWS All-Access Video.
William Smith is 5-12-1 with a 3-7-1 mark in conference play and is coming off a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Oswego. The Herons are 4-2-1 on home ice this season. William Smith enters the weekend seventh in the NEHC with 12 points, three behind Johnson & Wales.
The Herons are led by captain
Emily Martino who has eight points on two goals and six assists.
Mia LaPlante (4g, 2a),
Mackenzie O'Neil (2g, 4a) and
Annabel Ziskin (2g, 4a) are right behind her with six points each.
Amanda Aalto has played a majority of the minutes in goal. She is 2-5-1 with a 2.33 goals against average and a .927 save percentage.
Johnson and Wales enters the weekend with an 8-8-1 overall record and a 5-5-0 mark in conference play. The Wildcats are coming off a 10-0 loss at Norwich Wednesday afternoon. Kaylin Garner leads the team with 13 points on eight goals and five assists. Soph Hamel (8g, 2a) and Hannah Tracy (3g, 7a) have 10 points each. Anna Maulson and Sofia Tamayo have split time in goal. Maulson is 1-6-1 with a 3.92 GAA and an .881 save percentage. Tamayo is 7-2-0 with a 1.71 GAA and a .937 save percentage.
Friday's game will be the second meeting between William Smith and Johnson & Wales. The Wildcats won the first meeting 5-3 back on Nov. 20 behind a three-goals in the third period. This will be the first meeting in Geneva.
UMass Boston is 8-9-0 overall and 7-4-0 in NEHC play. The Beacons will be at Elmira on Friday night. Katie Leffler leads the team with 17 points on six goals and 11 assists. Cailey Kozich is right behind her with 15 points on seven goals and eight assists. Katie Wilbert shares the team lead with seven goals. Victoria Kennedy has played a majority of the minutes in goal. She is 8-9-0 with a 2.40 GAA and a .919 save percentage.
Saturday's game will be the ninth meeting between the Herons and Beacons. UMass Boston holds a slight 4-3-1 lead in the series. The Herons are 3-0-1 on their home ice. The Beacons edged William Smith 2-1 back on Nov. 19.
