GENEVA, N.Y. – The William Smith College ice hockey team was edged by Utica 1-0 in an ECAC West contest at The Cooler this evening.
The Herons (2-3-0, 0-3-0) and The Pioneers (1-2-0, 1-2-0) battled through a scoreless first period that saw Utica outshoot William Smith 17-9. The teams exchanged scoring opportunities but neither team was able to find the back of the net. Sophomore Stephanie Hampton had one of the best chances of the game, when she wristed a shot from the left faceoff circle that cleanly beat Keira Goin, but rang off the crossbar. With 12 seconds left, in the opening period, Emily Coope forced a turnover deep inside Utica’s offensive zone. She fired a shot from directly in front of the cage. Junior Maggie Salmon flashed out her glove, robbing Coope point blank.
The Pioneers scored the game’s only goal at 16:12 of the second period. Coope collected a loose puck along the boards and fired a cross crease pass to Elizabeth Dohner, who was standing alone on the left post. Dohner fired a shot into the open half of the net for her first goal of the season.
The third period once again belonged to the goaltenders as the teams played the final 20 minutes of the game without allowing a goal.
Salmon stopped 39 of the 40 shots she faced in 58:17 of action in the William Smith goal. At the opposite end of the rink, Goin stopped all 22 shots she faced in the Utica goal.
Neither team scored a power-play goal in the game. William Smith stayed disciplined taking one penalty this evening.
The Herons and the Pioneers will meet again on Sunday in Utica, N.Y. Faceoff at the Utica Memorial Auditorium is scheduled for 11 a.m.
