GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith ice hockey team defeated Salem State 1-0 in a New England Hockey Conference contest at The Cooler this evening. It was the second consecutive shutout for the Herons.
 
Graduate student Mackenzie O'Neil scored for the Herons. Senior Erin Murray stopped all 15 shots she faced as she recorded her fourth shutout of the season.
 
Delaney Cox started in goal for Salem State and made 35 saves.
 
FOR THE RECORD

• William Smith improves to 5-8-1 on the season with a 5-3-0 mark in NEHC play.
• Salem State falls to 4-11-0 overall and 0-8-0 in conference play.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Herons finished the game with a 36-15 advantage in shots on goal.
• William Smith was 0-for-2 with the extra skater and Salem State was 0-for-3 on the power play.

 
SCORING SUMMARY

• O'Neil scored the game-winning goal at the 13:08 mark of the second period. She collected a breakout pass from first-year Natalie May and snapped a wrist shot over Cox's shoulder. It was her third goal of the season. Sophomore Allie Cimis also had an assist on the goal.

 

Mackenzie O'Neil's 3rd goal of the season was all @HeronHockey needed this afternoon as William Smith defeated Salem State 1-0, completing the weekend sweep#HeronPride #d3hky pic.twitter.com/n1eQg7khIm

— HWS Athletics (@HWSAthletics) January 12, 2025

GAME SUMMARY

• Salem State finished the opening 20 minutes with an 8-6 edge in shots on goal. The goalies stood tall keeping the offenses off of the scoreboard.
• William Smith dominated the second period, accumulating a 16-1 advantage in shots on goal.
•  The Vikings had a chance to tie the game in the closing stages of regulation. With the goalie pulled, Aislinn Bennett had a shot from the point turned aside by Murray. Lexi Warner tried to stuff the rebound past Murray, but the goalie sealed off the right goalpost and kept the puck out of the back of the net.

 
 
CLIMBING THE LADDER

• With today's shutout, Murray now has nine for her career. She is tied for second with Annie Hauser  '24 on William Smith's career list.
• Murray's four shutouts this season are tied for second on William Smith's single-season list.

 
UP NEXT
William Smith will be back in action next weekend, Jan. 17-18, when it heads to Henniker, New Hampshire, for a weekend series with New England College. It will begin a three-game road trip for the Herons.