GENEVA, N.Y.-The William Smith College ice hockey team scored four times in the second period as it defeated Neumann 4-0 in United Collegiate Hockey Conference play at The Cooler this evening. With the win, the Herons are 7-0-0 overall for the first time in program history and 5-0-0 in conference play.
Four different players scored in the victory for the Herons. First-year Abbey Luth led the way with a game-high two points on a goal and an assist. Sophomore Olivia Williams notched her second straight shutout, stopping all 14 of the shots she faced. Helen Cooney played all 60 minutes in goal for Neumann ((1-7-1, 0-5-0). She made 39 saves.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first period, but the Herons owned the territorial advantage, outshooting the Knights 14-2 in the opening period. William Smith hit two goal posts while Neumann hit one in the opening 20 minutes. Neumann’s Sid Squires had the game’s first major scoring opportunity when she broke down the left wing. Her shot beat Williams cleanly but rang off the left goal post. Just over two minutes later, Luth wristed a shot off the goal post. She hit another post with just under two minutes remaining in the period. The Herons thought they had taken a 1-0 lead midway through the period but Jules Kennedy’s goal was waved off.
William Smith opened the scoring at the 4:44 mark of the first period when Luth poked a loose puck across the goal line. Senior Egan Sachs-Hecht and sophomore Lexi Nottke were credited with assists on the goal. Sachs-Hecht fired a shot from the point that weaved through traffic and trickled into the goal crease. Luth, who was crashing the net, poked the loose puck over the goal line before Cooney could freeze it for a faceoff. It was Luth’s team-leading seventh goal of the season. Kennedy got on the score sheet at the 12:27 mark of the period. Luth and Emily Martino were credited with assists on Kennedy’s fourth goal of the season. Martino started the breakout in her own zone, sending a clearing pass to Luth in the neutral zone. Luth streaked down the right wing, deked a defender and slid a crossing pass to Kennedy, who one-timed it past Cooney and into the net.
Lindsay Brown gave William Smith a 3-0 lead at the 17:10 mark of the third period. After exiting the penalty box, she collected a pass from Maura Mulligan, broke into the attacking zone, and wristed a shot into the upper right corner of the net. Sophomore Julia Mings added an insurance goal just under two minutes later. Her fourth goal of the season was assisted by Marykate Martino.
The Herons nearly made it 5-0 but had a goal waved off in the third period.
The Herons finished the game with a 43-14 edge in shots. Neither team was able to convert on the power play. William Smith was 0-for-4 with the extra skater while Neumann was 0-for-2.
The teams will wrap up the season series tomorrow afternoon at The Cooler. Faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
