HOUGHTON, N.Y. –First-year Abigail Mantione scored three goals as the William Smith field hockey cruised to a 5-0 win over Houghton this afternoon in a non-conference contest on Burke Field. With the win, the Herons improved to 6-7 overall, while the Highlanders fell to 7-2 on the season.
William Smith put on a dominant performance in the non-conference win. The Herons held a 20-4 advantage in shots, including a 17-0 edge in shots on target. William Smith earned seven penalty corners compared to Houghton's two. The Highlanders combined for 12 saves, while the Herons didn't face a shot on target in the win.
Mantione powered the Herons with seven points on three goals and an assist. It was her first career hat trick. Junior Mia Batchelder added two goals in the win, while senior Leah Griffith chipped in one assist for William Smith. Mantione fired off a career-high nine shots, landing eight on target, while Batchelder added four shots, landing two on target. Senior Ava Vecchione added two shots on target in the win.
Sophomore Olivia Terranova and first-year Ryan Marsh each played 30 minutes in goal for the Herons and combined for zero saves. With the win, Terranova is now 6-5 on the season.
MATCH MOMENTS:
- William Smith opened the scoring just 1:35 into the game after a long pass from Vecchione found the stick of Batchelder. Batchelder drove at the Houghton defense, beating two defenders before firing off a shot. The rebound from her original shot fell back to her stick. Batchelder dribbled around the goalie and fired a shot into the back of the goal to give the Herons an early 1-0 lead.
- The Herons doubled their lead at the 12:52 mark after being awarded a penalty corner. After a scramble in front of goal, Mantione deflected a shot past the Highlander goalie to give William Smith a two-goal lead.
- William Smith continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, creating two strong scoring chances but both Vecchione and junior Ana Dios Vidal's shots were swept off the line by Campbell Bowers for back-to-back defensive saves.
- The Herons made it 3-0 just one minute before halftime after Mantione tallied her second of the day. Mantione took advantage of a Houghton defensive miscue and fired off a shot past Amber Cribbs to give William Smith a three-goal lead.
- The third quarter saw the two sides trade possession in midfield, with neither side securing any threating scoring chances. William Smith held a 2-1 edge in shots and a 3-1 advantage in penalty corners but couldn't add to their lead before heading to the fourth quarter.
- William Smith would strike again just 20 seconds into the final quarter after Batchelder tallied her second of the night. Mantione intercepted a Houghton pass at half field and created a fast break opportunity. She dribbled through three defenders and around the Highlander goalie before slotting a pass to Batchelder who was there to tap home her shot. It was Batchelder's fifth goal of the season.
- The Herons closed out the scoring in the 53rd minute when Mantione tallied her first career hat trick. A scramble in front of net led to a crossing pass from Griffith to Mantione. Mantione redirected the shot past the Houghton goalie to give William Smith a 5-0 lead and the non-conference win.
COACHES CORNER:
"We had a dominant game today as a collective," said Head Coach Sophie Riskie '07. "We put up a lot of shots which is something that we focus on each game and tonight we reached that performance goal total for shots. Today, we also emphasized wanting to capitalize on our attack off our press and we did that really well. Mia and Abigail were a serious threat in the attacking circle, and their goalkeeper made some great saves. We look forward to hitting the road again this weekend as we head up to St Lawrence."
UP NEXT:
William Smith will be back in action Saturday, Oct. 10, when it travels to the North Country for a Liberty League matchup with St. Lawrence. Action between the Herons and the Saints is set for 1 p.m. in Canton, N.Y.
