GENEVA, N.Y.— The William Smith College field hockey team prevailed 2-1 in a penalty shootout over nationally-ranked Rochester to open conference play this evening on McCooey Field. The Herons move to 5-3 on the season and 1-0 in conference play, while the Yellowjackets fall to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the Liberty League.
 
After 20 minutes of overtime play, William Smith and Rochester went head-to-head in a penalty shootout with the Herons coming out on top 3-2. Senior Sydney Foster was credited with the game-winning-goal, while senior Kristen McCormick came up big in goal with three stops.
 
This was William Smith's second straight game that was forced into extra time, while Rochester entered its fourth overtime game and third shootout of the season. This was also the second straight matchup between the Herons and the Yellowjackets that ended in shootout, with both games ending in a William Smith victory.

The Herons and Yellowjackets played an evenly matched game through 80 minutes with Rochester holding a 14-13 edge in shots over William Smith. The Yellowjackets also held a 6-2 edge in shots on goal and a 7-5 edge in penalty corners.  
 
MATCH MOMENTS:

• Rochester opened the scoring 5:22 into the contest after the Yellowjackets were awarded a penalty corner. Zoe Conomikes fired off a shot that fell perfectly on the stick of Maeve Fogarty, who chipped the ball past an oncoming McCormick.
• William Smith and Rochester would trade the momentum in the remaining 24:38 of the first half as the Herons outshot the Yellowjackets 5-4.
• 8:06 into the third quarter, the Herons would respond with a goal of their own. Graduate student Kate Barilla ripped a shot from outside of the arc that a Yellowjacket defender blocked. The deflection landed perfectly for junior Rebecca Mantione, who dribbled around one defender and blasted a shot into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Mantione would be credited with her team-leading third goal of the season.
• Rochester responded in the fourth quarter, firing off five shots and earning one penalty corner but McCormick would stand tall and make three big saves to keep the game all tied up.
• Through 20 minutes of overtime play, both teams would battle hard in the midfield and register four shots each. McCormick and Houston earned one save each to send the game to a shootout.
• McCormick played all 80 minutes in goal for William Smith, posting four saves on the night. She now moves to 4-2 on the season.

SHOOTOUT STATS:

• Rochester's Conomikes and graduate student Mackenzie Wodka both converted successful penalty attempts in the first round to make it 1-1.
• In the third round, senior Libby Maxwell would give the Herons a 2-1 lead after Jessica Unkel missed the target on her shot.
• Fogarty leveled the score at 2-2 after backhanding a shot past McCormick in the fourth round. Foster's first attempt would be called back after Houston tripped her on the attempt. Foster's second attempt slipped past Houston to put William Smith back on top.
• McCormick came up big in the fifth round, saving Abigal Mateer's shot to give the Herons the win. Foster was credited with the game-winning-goal.

COACHES CORNER:

"I'm so proud of this team for fighting back from a 1-0 deficit," Head Coach Sophie Riskie '07 said. "We trusted the game plan, played together, and worked incredibly hard. We elevated our play quarter by quarter and withstood tough pressure by Rochester in the fourth quarter. It was a great night on McCooey!"
 
UP NEXT:

William Smith will be back in action Saturday, Sept. 23, when it welcomes nationally ranked Messiah University to Geneva. The Herons are set to take on the Falcons at noon on McCooey Field.