The William Smith ice hockey team returns to The Cooler this Saturday, Dec. 9, when it hosts Buffalo State University in a non-conference showdown. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
The Herons enter this weekend with a record of 9-3-0.  William Smith swept UMass Boston and Johnson and Wales this past weekend to improve to 5-1-0 in New England Hockey Conference play. On Friday, Colleen Quirk and Emma Faso netted a goal each in a 2-1 win against the Beacons. Annie Hauser made 28 saves. The next day, the Herons defeated the Wildcats 4-1. Faso and Brianna Felice scored two goals each and Hauser made 24 saves. Faso and Hauser earned a spot on the NEHC weekly Honor Roll for their efforts.
 
The Bengals are 1-8-1 overall. This past weekend, Buffalo State was defeated by Canton 5-2 and Potsdam 3-2 in overtime. Four different Bengals scored in the two games. Jessica Auge played every minute in goal, making 51 saves.
 
MEDIA COVERAGE

• Video: HWS All-Access
• Radio: WHWS-FM
• Live Stats: https://hwsathletics.com/sidearmstats/whockey/

 
ABOUT THE HERONS

• Junior Kayla Ketchabaw leads William Smith with nine goals, and 14 points.
• Junior Annabel Ziskin has a team-high nine assists and is third on the team with 12 points.
• Hauser has the edge in goalie minutes played for the Herons. She is 4-2-0 with a GAA of 1.18 and a save percentage of .956.

 
NATIONAL NUMBERS

• William Smith enters the weekend fifth in the nation in penalty killing percentage (.977) and scoring margin (+3.17), sixth in scoring offense (4.33) and 17th in faceoff win percentage (.558).
• In addition, the Herons are second in the nation in goals (52), third in points (122) and fourth in assists (70).
• Junior Lauren Leger is fifth in the nation with 133 faceoff wins.
• Hauser is 10th in the nation in save percentage and 14th in GAA.

 
 
ABOUT THE BENGALS

• Vanessa Willick leads Buffalo State with five goals and seven points.
• Five different Bengals have three assists each.
• Goaltender Jessica Auge has played the majority of the minutes in net for the Bengals. She has a GAA of 4.03 and a save percentage of .874.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• Saturday will be the 12th meeting between the Herons and the Bengals.
• The Bengals hold a 6-5-0 edge in the series, but the Herons are 3-1-0 in Geneva.
• On Nov. 21, the Herons defeated the Bengals 5-2 to claim their fourth straight win in the series. Elizabeth MacMurray scored two goals. Mia Iwicki made 23 saves as she picked up her second career win.