ELMIRA, N.Y.- The third seeded Stevenson Mustangs scored 8:30 into overtime to defeat second-seeded William Smith 3-2 in the semifinals of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference tournament this evening. The Herons finish their best season in program history with a record of 16-6-4.
Kellen Wittman scored the game-winning goal for the Mustangs (15-7-5) 8:30 into the overtime period. She carried the puck down the right wing deked around Maggie Salmon and slid the puck across the goal line. Chelsea Elis was credited with the assist on the goal.
Junior Stephanie Hampton scored both first period goals for the Herons. Senior Krista Federow and sophomore Gina Scibetta notched assists on both goals. Hampton opened the scoring at the 11:47 mark of the period with her 10th goal of the season. She picked up a rebound in front of the goal and slid the shot under Caitie Darosa’s left leg. She doubled the lead with a power-play goal with 11 seconds left in the opening period. She crashed the net from the left faceoff circle and poked the puck across the goal line. The second assist was Federow’s 50th of her career and her 90th point.
Neither team found the back of the net in the second period. Stevenson turned the momentum in its favor, outshooting the Herons 15-7 in the period. Salmon stood tall, stopping all 15 shots, including five on the power play. Scibetta had William Smith’s best scoring opportunity of the period. She broke up a clearing attempt at the blue line, carried the puck into the left faceoff circle and fired a wrist shot just over the crossbar.
Stevenson struck 4:30 into the third period. Falling to the ice, Cierra Siemasko slid the puck under Salmon’s leg. Chelsea Blackburn and Monica Pzuc were credited with assists on the goal. Blackburn tied the game at two four minutes later. She fired a shot home from the left faceoff circle. Kellen Wittman and Savannah Sommers were credited with assists on the goal. Blackburn nearly struck again with 6:48 left in the third but her shot hit the left post and Salmon covered it up.
With 4:08 left in the third period, Scibetta almost gave William Smith the lead, but her one-timer in the low slot was turned aside by Darosa.
In overtime, Begley had a chance to win the game but her backhand shot from the right post was stopped by Darosa.
Salmon finished the game with 51 saves. At the opposite end of the rink, Darosa made 26 saves in goal for the Mustangs. William Smith was 1-for-3 on the power play while Stevenson was 1-for-5.
The Herons class of 2018 is the first graduating class in William Smith ice hockey history. Sarah Garrett, Catherine Linehan, Krista Federow, Kiley Fewster, Rebecca Begley, Lizzy Weingast, Maggie Salmon and Emily Spencer have left their mark on the program, developing it from a first-year varsity program to a contender for the conference crown.
