HAVERFORD, Pa.—The seventh-ranked William Smith College soccer team opened the 2023 season with a 1-0 victory over The College of New Jersey at the Haverford Kick Off Classic this afternoon.
 
Maggie Speckhart scored the game's lone goal in the 42nd minute. Kirsten Nelson played all 90 minutes in goal and made six saves as she earned the shutout.
 
Isabella Norman played all 90 minutes in goal for the Lions, making seven saves.
 
KEY STATS

• William Smith has won seven straight season openers.
• The Lions finished the game with a 19-13 edge in shots and a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.

 
FIRST HALF

• TCNJ's Sophia Viera had the game's first scoring chance in the third minute, but her shot was blocked by a William Smith defender.
• Three minutes later, Julia DiMenna had an opportunity stopped by Norman. Emma Faso had a shot attempt that just missed the right goalpost in the seventh minute.
• In the 15th minute, Kirsten Nelson punched a Viera shot over the crossbar.
• Speckhart nearly opened the scoring in the 35th minute, but her shot was turned aside by Norman. Six minutes later, she collected a pass from Emma Kirts and looped a shot from just outside the 18-yard box into the upper right corner of the cage.

 
SECOND HALF

• Faso nearly doubled the Herons lead in the 51st minute, but Norman made a diving stop on the attempt from the top of the 18-yard box.
• TCNJ had its best opportunity of the game in the 60th minute. Victoria D'Imperio chipped a shot over a charging Nelson. The ball appeared to be bouncing into the empty net, but Ava Brazie caught up to the ball and kicked it away from the cage.
• In the 82nd minute, D'Imperio had another scoring chance off a corner kick, but she fired her shot just wide right.

 
UP NEXT
William Smith will be back in action tomorrow when it takes on Arcadia at 3 p.m. The Knights are also 1-0-0 after defeating Haverford in the first game of the Kick Off Classic.