SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—William Smith senior midfielder Ruth Hotaling scored twice as the Herons, who are receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, defeated Skidmore 2-0 in a Liberty League contest at Skidmore's Wachenheim Field this afternoon.
 
Today's game was Hotaling's second straight two-goal game and third this season. Junior Antonia Goerke played all 90 minutes in goal and made five saves as she earned her seventh shutout of the season.
 
Avery Rogers played all 90 minutes in goal for the Thoroughbreds. She made seven saves.
 
FOR THE RECORD

• With the win, William Smith is 8-2-2 overall this season and 4-1-0 in conference play. The Herons are second in the league standings with 12 points.
• Skidmore falls to 4-3-4 overall this season with a 2-1-2 mark in conference play. The Thoroughbreds are fourth with eight points,

 
CLIMBING THE LADDER

• With four points today, Hotaling now has 75 for her career. She moves into 19th on William Smith's career list. Karen Miller '89 is 18th with 78.

 
KEY STATS

• The Herons finished the game with a 16-13 edge in shots, including a 9-5 advantage in shots on goal.
• William Smith had seven corner kicks and Skidmore had two.

 
MATCH MOMENTS

• The Thoroughbreds had the game's first chance in the third minute, but Ellianna Capporusso's shot was smothered by Goerke.
• In the 13th minute, Goerke made a diving stop on a shot from Abby Lewis.
• Sophomore Casey Holstein had the Herons' first chance in the 19th minute. Her shot was stopped by Rogers.
• Rogers then made a diving stop on a shot from senior Julia Bragg.
• The Herons took a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute. Hotaling dribbled past a defender and slipped a shot past Rogers for her 10th goal of the season.
• Hotaling gave the Herons a 2-0 lead in the 57th minute. She curled a corner kick into the goal. It was her Liberty League leading 11th goal of the year.
• Izzy Thors nearly made it 3-0 in the 71st minute, but her shot was punched over the goal line at the last second.

 
COACH'S CORNER
"Today was a great win and a really strong second half performance," Head Coach Laura Burnett-Kurie '08 said. "Our team stepped up, made some great adjustments and played to their strengths in the second half. We are proud of the group for the growth we showed and are eager for more."
 
 
UP NEXT
William Smith will be back in action Saturday, Oct. 18, when it heads to Poughkeepsie, New York, to take on league-leading Vassar. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.