By Mackenzie Larson, HWS Athletic Communications
GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith College first-year Natalie Daniels recorded a career-high six goals to pace the Herons to a 19-9 victory over Rochester Institute of Technology in the Poole Family Sports Dome this afternoon. With the win, William Smith is now 10-0 on the season with a 4-0 record in Liberty League play.
With thunderstorms in the forecast, the game was moved from RIT’s Tiger Stadium and inside the Poole Family Sports Dome. The move was a wise one thunder rumbled and rain pounded the dome throughout the game.
In addition to six goals, Daniels had two ground balls and two draw controls. Sophomore Katherine Murray (2g, 1a), senior Payton McMahon (3g) and first-year Hannah Evans (2g, 1a) finished the game with three points each. Senior Maddie Montgomery had a team-high four draw controls and McMahon was right behind her with three. Sophomore Livvy von Heill led the defensive effort with three caused turnovers. She added a pair of draw controls. Sophomore Maura Smeader played 45 minutes and made one save. Junior Madison Dicks played the fourth quarter and made a save.
RIT (3-6, 1-4) was led by Carissa Hlywa’s four points on a goal and three assists. Zoe Heffernan recorded a hat trick for the Tigers. Adele Jones dominated the draw circle, winning a game-high nine draw controls. Michelle Messenger played all 60 minutes in goal for RIT and made 15 saves.
KEY STATS
- William Smith finished the game with a 41-17 advantage in shots and a 22-8 lead in ground balls. The Herons were a perfect 18-for-18 clearing the ball while The Tigers were 13-for-18 on clear attempts.
- RIT won the battle in the draw circle 17-14.
- William Smith has won 12 straight games against RIT and leads the series 12-1.
- The Herons are 10-0 on the season for the first time since 1995.
OPENING FRAME
- The Tigers jumped out to a 1-0 lead 36 seconds into the game. RIT won the opening draw and Lily DePalma found Serafina Kiselgof open in front of the cage. Kiselgof bounced a shot home for her seventh goal of the year.
- William Smith tied the game four minutes later. Murray beat Messenger on a free position attempt. Murray’s 20th goal of the season sparked a 10-goal run for the Herons.
- Daniels’ first goal of the game and 12th of the season gave William Smith the lead. It was an unassisted tally.
- Two minutes later, McMahon notched her first goal of the game and 14th tally of the season. With 2:01 left in the frame, Montgomery notched her 33rd goal of the year.
PULLING AWAY
- The Herons put the game out of reach scoring eight of the second quarter’s nine goals. Murray opened the frame with her second goal of the game 90 seconds into the quarter. Her 21st goal of the season was unassisted.
- Two minutes later, Montgomery netted her team-leading 34th goal of the season, dodging around a pair of defenders and beating the RIT goalie.
- Daniels scored the next two goals in a span of 51 seconds. To complete her hat trick. Both goals were unassisted tallies. With 6:46 remaining in the frame Molly Davis pocketed her 16th goal of the season.
- Forty-three seconds later, senior Kaitlin Pellechia collected a feed from junior Allie McGinty, spun and fired a shot into the back of the net. It was Pellechia’s 20th goal of the year. The assist extended McGinty’s point streak to 31 games.
- Morgan Nichter halted the run with her second goal of the season. Her unassisted tally came with 5:37 remaining in the half.
- Daniels and McMahon rounded out the scoring in the first half with goals 90 seconds apart. Daniels’ fourth goal of the game came on a free position shot and McMahon’s strike was assisted by Murray.
THIRD QUARTER
- RIT opened the second half scoring three straight goals to cut the William Smith lead down to seven. Hlywa opened the run with her 13th goal of the year. Forty-five seconds later Baylee West notched a goal off a feed from Lily DePalma. Zoe Heffernan tacked on a goal with 10:46 remaining in the stanza.
- Daniels halted the Tigers’ run with her fifth goal of the game. She ripped a shot from 10 yards out past Messenger for her 16th goal of the year. Three minutes later Hannah Evans notched her second goal of the season. Maddie Schleicher was awarded an assist on the goal.
- Kayleigh Ground scored for the Tigers off a feed from Hlywa with 2:12 left in the third quarter.
- With 51 seconds remaining in the frame, McMahon ran 80 yards, faked out the goalie and slipped a shot into the back of the net to complete her hat trick. It was her 16th goal of the year. It was a woman-up goal.
FINAL FRAME
- Junior Chloe McGlynn opened the fourth quarter with her seventh goal of the year. Junior Elizabeth MacMurray was awarded an assist on the goal.
- Daniels added her sixth goal of the game with 6:36 remaining in the frame. Her 17th goal of the year was assisted by Evans. Junior Emily Griffin notched her fourth goal of the year two minutes later, firing home a shot from a tight angle. Evans rounded out the scoring with 19 seconds remaining in regulation.
- Heffernan scored twice and Kiselgof added a goal in the final quarter for RIT.
UP NEXT
William Smith will be back in action Saturday, April 8, when it continues its four-game homestand against the University of Rochester. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Urick Stadium.
