ITHACA, N.Y.—The nationally-ranked William Smith soccer team and Ithaca played to a scoreless draw on a rainy and windy afternoon at Carp Wood Field in the Liberty League Championship game. The Bombers captured the league title and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament with a 3-2 win in penalty kicks.
William Smith now awaits its fate as an at-large bid. The 2024 NCAA Women's Soccer Selection show is scheduled for 2 p.m., tomorrow, Nov. 11.
FOR THE RECORD
- With today's draw, William Smith is 12-3-4 overall on the season.
- Ithaca is 13-2-4 overall.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- An even match, the Herons finished the game with a 17-16 edge in shots.
- William Smith had three corner kicks and Ithaca had two.
- Graduate student Kirsten Nelson made four saves as she earned her ninth shutout of the year.
- Grace Hickey made 12 saves in the Ithaca goal.
MATCH MOMENTS
- William Smith applied pressure in the offensive end of the field right from the opening kick. In the third minute, junior Ruth Hotaling fired a shot towards the bottom right corner that Hickey made a diving stop on.
- Off the ensuing corner kick, senior Marjorie Plants had a shot blocked by an Ithaca defender.
- Plants again had a shot blocked in the fourth minute and Hotaling chipped the rebound over the crossbar.
- In the 13th minute Plants had a shot from the top of the 18-yard box smothered by Hickey.
- The Herons had another flurry of chances late in the half but they could not sneak a shot past Hickey.
- William Smith's best chance of the game came in the 88th minute when a bouncing ball in the box found the foot of senior Moira van der Putt. Her shot was turned aside by a diving Hickey.
- In the first overtime, William Smith had the only two shots. Hotaling had an attempt saved by Hickey, and senior Lindsay Ringbloom's shot was blocked.
- In the second extra session, Ithaca had the only two shots. Mia Medearis missed wide right and Margo Kasenchar headed a corner kick over the crossbar.
THE SHOOTOUT
- Ithaca made its first three attempts and hit the crossbar with their fourth.
- Hickey proved to be the difference maker, making two saves in the penalty kicks.
- William Smith made its first and fourth kicks.