ROCHESTER, N.Y.—The William Smith soccer team jumped out to a 2-0 lead and never looked back as it knocked off seventh-ranked Rochester 3-1 in a nonconference contest at Fauver Stadium this evening. With their third straight win, the Herons are now 4-2-1 overall this season.
 
Three different players scored in the victory for William Smith. Graduate student Kirsten Nelson played all 90 minutes in goal and made 4 saves.
 
Natalie Santangelo scored for the Yellowjackets (5-1-1). Grace Kuropatkin played all 90 minutes in the Rochester goal.
 
SERIES HISTORY

• Tonight's win was William Smith's first over Rochester since Sept. 16, 2017. On that day, the Herons also beat Rochester 3-1 in Rochester.
• The Herons now hold a 25-17-9 advantage all-time against the Yellowjackets.

 
MATCH MOMENTS

• William Smith opened the scoring in the 26th minute. Senior Lindsay Ringbloom one-timed a crossing pass from junior Ruth Hotaling past Kuropatkin for her second goal of the season.
• Sixty-five seconds later, sophomore Kaleigh Darby notched her second goal of the season. She fired a shot from 33-yards out over the goalie's head and into the back of the net. It was an unassisted tally.
• Rochester had a chance to get on the scoreboard just before halftime, but William Smith's defense was up to the task. Syd Coggins' shot was turned aside by Nelson. The rebound landed on Alyssa Doody's foot, but her shot was stopped by senior Marjorie Plants.
• The Yellowjackets played the final 39 minutes of the match down a player after one of their defenders was shown a red card in the 51st minute.
• Rochester broke up the shutout bid in the 55th minute when Natalie Santangelo fired a left-footed volley from the top of the 18-yard box into the upper right corner of the cage.
• The Herons tacked on an insurance goal in the 88th minute. Plants picked up a loose ball at the 35 yard-line, outraced her defender and cut into the 18-yard box. She then juked around the goalie and slotted a shot into the empty net. It was her team-leading fifth goal of the season.

 
STREAK SNAPPERS

• With tonight's victory, William Smith snapped a pair of impressive streaks for Rochester.
• Entering tonight's game, the Yellowjackets had not lost in their last 23 regular season matches and had not been beaten in a regular season home game since 2021.
• The three goals scored tonight were the most Rochester had allowed since their last regular season loss, Nov. 5, 2022.

 
UP NEXT
William Smith will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 25, when it opens Liberty League play. The Herons will take on Rochester Institute of Technology on Cozzens Field. The game is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.