The William Smith soccer team, which is ranked 20th in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, heads to Pittsburgh this weekend, Sept 7-8, for the 2024 Double Tree by Hilton – Suites Pittsburgh Downtown Tartan Cup.  On Saturday, the Herons will take on the hosts Carnegie of Mellon at 11 a.m. The next day, William Smith will face Denison at noon. 
 
The Herons enter the weekend with a 1-1-0 overall record. Last Friday, William Smith defeated Plattsburgh State 8-0. Senior Marjorie Plants led the team with two goals. Five Herons scored their first collegiate goal in the win. Goalie Kirsten Nelson made three saves in the win. The following afternoon the Herons were edged by Washington and Lee 2-0.
 
Fans unable to make the trip can follow all the action online at athletics.cmu.edu.
 
ABOUT THE HERONS

• Plants leads the Herons with two goals.
• Junior Ruth Hotaling leads the team with two assists. 
• Nelson has played the majority of minutes in goal for the Herons. She has a 1.16 GAA.

 
ABOUT THE TARTANS

• Carnegie Mellon is 0-0-1 to start the season.
• The Tartans and No. 3 Messiah battled to a 0-0 tie in the season opener.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• Saturday will be the third meeting between William Smith and Carnegie Mellon.
• Both teams have won once. The Herons took the last meeting 2-0 in 2022 on Cozens Field.

 
ABOUT THE BIG RED

• Denison is 1-1-0 to start the year and will take on Westminster on Saturday afternoon.
• The Big Red lost to Otterbein 1-0 in their season opener before beating Capital 2-0 two days later.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• Sunday will be the seventh meeting between the Herons and the Big Red.
• William Smith leads the all-time series 5-1-0.
• The Herons have won two straight in the series with the last meeting coming in 2016.