The No. 17 William Smith soccer team got goals from four different players in a 4-0 Liberty League victory over Bard on Cozzens Field Saturday afternoon. The Herons improved to 5-2-2 overall, 1-1-0 in conference play, while the Raptors slipped to 3-4-0, 0-2-0.
Senior Ruth Hotaling opened the day’s scoring 93 seconds into the match. Senior Julia Bragg, first-year Lilia Mack and sophomore Grace Metzler added to the home team’s advantage with second-half strikes. Metzler also earned an assist, as did senior Emily Blight.
INSTANT OFFENSE
- Before most fans had settled into their seats, Hotaling registered her team-leading sixth goal of the season. She broke into the box, chasing down a through ball before it got the end line to the right of the goal. Hotaling slipped past her defender, cutting back to the middle and scoring on a low shot inside the far post.
- William Smith kept the pressure on throughout the first half, but Bard goalie McKenna Reeves made eight of her 13 saves before the intermission to keep it a one-score game.
- The Herons added to their lead early in the second half with a three-shot flurry. Rachel Lee redirected a pass inside the six on goal, but it was saved by a Bard defender. Metzler got a shot of the rebound that Reeves saved, but Julia Bragg was there to drive home the carom for her fifth goal of the year and a 2-0 lead.
- In the 52nd minute, Mack penned her name on the scoring sheet, lofting a shot from 25 yards out that floated into the upper left corner of the net. It was her first collegiate goal.
- The Herons tacked on their final tally in the 84th minute when Blight slotted a perfect through ball to Metzler, who scored from 8 yards out.
NUMBERS GAME
- William Smith outshot Bard 31-3, including 16-0 in the first half.
- The Herons had a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.
UP NEXT
- William Smith will play the middle game of its three-game homestand on Wednesday, Oct. 1 when the Herons take on Ithaca (3-3-2, 0-1-0). The match is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.
