GENEVA, N.Y. –Junior Mia Batchelder scored in the 26th minute as the William Smith field hockey team defeated Union 1-0, securing a crucial conference victory. With the win, the Herons improved to 8-8 overall with a 2-2 record in conference play, while the Garnet Chargers fell to 7-6 on the season and 2-3 in the Liberty League.
William Smith and Union put on a thrilling conference battle this afternoon on McCooey Field. The Herons held a 12-9 edge in shots against the Garnet Chargers, including a 7-3 advantage in shots on target. William Smith earned 10 penalty corners compared to Union's three, while the Garnet Chargers held a 6-3 advantage in saves.
Batchelder tallied the lone goal of the game, while junior Caroline Kogut recorded her fifth assist of the season. Batchelder led the Herons with three shots in the win, landing all three on target, while seniors Ava Vecchione and Leah Griffith as well as junior Hadley Harbert fired off two shots each in the win.
Sophomore Olivia Terranova played all 60 minutes in goal for William Smith and made three saves in the win. It was Terranova's fourth shutout of the season. With the win, she is now 8-6 on the season.
MATCH MOMENTS:
- William Smith came out on the front foot, applying the early pressure and maintaining a majority of the early possession. The Herons' first scoring chance of the game came in the sixth minute after being awarded a penalty corner. Junior Mia Bolster fired off a shot which was blocked by a Union defender to keep William Smith off the board.
- The Garnet Chargers responded with one of their best scoring chances of the afternoon. After a scramble in front of goal, Katelyn Birnbaum fired off back-to-back shots, but Terranova stood tall and made two saves to keep it a 0-0 game.
- The Herons continued to push the tempo, creating several scoring opportunities but were denied by the Union defense.
- William Smith finally broke through in the 26th minute after being awarded a penalty corner. Griffith inserted the ball to Kogut at the top of the circle. Kogut took one touch and fired a shot that was going just wide of the goal. Batchelder dove to redirect the shot back on target, beating Tess Parker to give the Herons a 1-0 lead.
- The Herons nearly doubled their lead with less than 30 seconds remaining in the half, but Griffith's shot was blocked by a Garnet Charger defender.
- The third quarter saw William Smith and Union battling for possession in the midfield. Both sides recorded one shot in the 15-minute period but neither the Herons nor the Garnet Chargers created any threatening scoring chances.
- Both sides came out firing in the final 15 minutes. William Smith fired off four shots compared to Union's five as the Garnet Chargers pushed for a late equalizer. Despite Union applying late pressure, the Garnet Chargers forced Terranova into only one save.
- William Smith almost added to its lead in the 51st minute after a penalty corner resulted in back-to-back shots by Harbert, but Union's defense stood tall to keep it a 1-0 game.
- The Herons locked down defensively for the final nine minutes, allowing no shots on target despite being down a player as Union pulled their goalie. William Smith used the clock to their advantage and closed out the thrilling conference battle on top, 1-0.
COACHES CORNER:
"Today was a battle and the Herons rose to the occasion!" said Head Coach Sophie Riskie '07 "We executed excellently on the corner where Mia had another diving goal. Our midfield defense was solid the whole game, we anticipated really well and had many interceptions. I'm really proud of how well we managed the pressure that Union applied in the fourth quarter and defending the pulled goalkeeper. We're excited to head to Ithaca on Sunday."
UP NEXT:
William Smith will be back in action Sunday, Oct. 18, when it travels to Liberty League foe, No. 22 Ithaca, for a crucial conference clash. Action between the Herons and the Bombers is set for 1 p.m.
