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Mackenzie O'Neil Skates into the offensive zone
ADAM FARID '20

Herons start 4-game homestand vs. Plymouth St.

1/4/2024 2:24:00 PM

By: Mackenzie Larsen '12
The William Smith College ice hockey team will begin a four-game homestand to start the second half of the season this weekend, Jan. 5-6, when it welcomes Plymouth State University and Vermont State University Castleton for a pair of New England Hockey Conference games. Friday's game against the Panthers is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday's game against the Spartans will start at 4 p.m.
 
The Herons have been idle since Dec. 9. They entered the winter break on an eight-game win streak following a 4-1 victory over Buffalo State. Sophomore forward Kelly Howe recorded a hat trick in the victory. Junior Erin Murray made 20 saves in 60 minutes of work. William Smith is 10-3-0 overall with a 5-1-0 mark in conference play. The Herons are tied for second in the NEHC with 15 points, three behind Norwich.
 
Plymouth State is 3-7-0 overall with a 3-3-0 mark in the NEHC. The Panthers are currently fifth in the league standings with 10 points. Plymouth State has lost five straight games, including a 9-0 loss to 11th-ranked Colby on Tuesday.
 
Castleton is 5-7-1 overall with a 3-2-1 mark in the NEHC. The Spartans are fifth in the conference standings with 10 points. Castleton is looking to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to third-ranked Amherst on Tuesday. The Spartans will be at Elmira on Friday night.
 
MEDIA COVERAGE  
ABOUT THE HERONS
  • Junior forward Kayla Ketchabaw leads the team with nine goals and 14 points. Howe is right behind her with eight goals.
  • Junior defender Annabel Ziskin and senior forward Mackenzie O'Neil are second on the team with 13 points. Ziskin leads the NEHC with 10 assists.
  • Murray and senior Annie Hauser have split time in goal. Murray is 4-1-1 with a 1.29 GAA and a .948 save percentage. Hauser is 4-2-0 with a 1.18 GAA and a .956 save percentage.
 
NATIONAL NUMBERS
  • William Smith enters the weekend second in the nation in goals (56) and third in scoring offense (4.31). The Herons are third in scoring margin (+4.31).
  • Additionally, William Smith is second in the nation in penalty killing percentage (.978). The Herons have allowed just three power-play goals this year, none since Nov. 17.
  • Individually, O'Neil is second in the nation with two shorthanded goals. Ziskin is 18th in assists per game (0.77) and Ketchabaw (0.69) and Howe (0.67) are 21st and 24th, respectively, in goals per game.
  • Junior Lauren Legler is 11th in the nation in faceoff wins (142).
  • Hauser is 12th in the nation in save percentage and 15th in GAA. Murray is 17th in GAA and 23rd in save percentage. They are both in the top 20 in the nation in winning percentage.
 
ABOUT THE PANTHERS
  • Katie Porrello leads Plymouth State with nine points on three goals and six assists.
  • Sophie Streed has a team-leading four goals.
  • Amelia Julian has played the majority of the minutes in goal. She is 2-6-0 with a 4.25 GAA and a .876 save percentage.
 
SERIES HISTORY
  • Friday's game will be the fourth meeting between William Smith and Plymouth State.
  • The Herons have won the previous three meetings. This will be the first in Geneva since Dec. 3, 2021.
  • On Dec. 3, 2022, William Smith beat the Panthers 4-0. Four different players had a goal and Murray made 25 saves as she earned the shutout.
 
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
  • Moa Carlsson and Taylor Adams share the team lead with 10 points each.
  • Carlsson has seven goals and three assists and Adams has six goals and four assists.
  • Julia Carpenter and Ellie Schliebener share the team lead with five assists each.
  • Kirsten DiCicco has the edge in goalie minutes played. She is 2-5-1 with a 1.62 GAA and a .948 save percentage.
  • The Spartans have yet to allow a power-play goal. They enter the weekend a perfect 38/38 on penalty kills and are one of just two teams in all of college hockey to have not allowed a ppg.
 
SERIES HISTORY
  • Saturday's game will be the sixth meeting between William Smith and Castleton.
  • The series is tied 2-2-1, but the Herons are 1-0-1 at The Cooler.
  • In the quarterfinals of the NEHC tournament last year, William Smith blanked the Spartans 5-0. Julianna Gong '23 scored twice and Hauser made 20 saves in the shutout.
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