GENEVA, N.Y.—The 11th-ranked William Smith soccer team scored twice in the first half as it closed out conference play with a 2-0 win over RPI to remain unbeaten in Liberty League play.
Juniors Aleena Solano and Kristin Middaugh scored for the Herons this afternoon. Solano and junior Grace Metzler added assists in the win. Senior Antonia Goerke and sophomore Sevilla Anderson combined for the shutout. Georke made one save in 48:45 of play, while Anderson added one save in the final 41:15 of play.
Hanna Pihu and Ava Gaboury split the minutes in goal for the Engineers and combined for five saves in the loss.
FOR THE RECORD
- The Herons improved to 13-3-0 on the season and concluded Liberty League play with a perfect 9-0-0 record.
- RPI falls to 4-7-6 with a 0-7-2 mark in conference play.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Herons finished the game with a 14-5 advantage in shots, including a 7-2 edge in shots on goal.
- RPI had seven corner kicks in the game, while William Smtih had three.
SCORING SUMMARY
- Solano opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Metzler collected the ball on outside of the box and fired off a shot that was originally stopped by Pihu. The rebound fell to the feet of Solano, who was there to tap it home to give the Herons an early 1-0 lead.
- William Smith doubled their lead just under three minutes later after Middaugh collected the ball roughly 40 yards out from goal. Middaugh slipped a through ball down the left side of the field to a running Solano. Solano collected the ball and slotted a pass back to a waiting Middaugh who fired a shot past Pihu to give the Herons a two-goal lead.
NEAR MISSES
- In the 18th minute, sophomore Sofia Carney nearly added to the Herons lead. After splitting through two defenders. Carney ripped a shot from 18-yards out that ricocheted off the crossbar. The rebound fell to senior Miranda Demura, but her shot was sent high.
- Solano nearly grabbed her second of the game in the 50th minute as she sent a shot to the top right of the cage, but Gaboury was there to make the stop and keep William Smith off the board.
- RPI's best scoring chance of the game came at the 70:09 mark after Allison Fleury ripped a shot to the top right corner of the goal. Anderson was there to make the diving stop to keep the Engineers scoreless.
UP NEXT
William Smith officially clinched the top-seed in the 2026 Liberty League Tournament and will await the winner of the fourth-seeded Ithaca and fifth-seeded RIT in the semifinal round on Friday, Nov. 6.
