GENEVA, N.Y.—The No. 8 William Smith soccer team scored three goals in the second half to defeat Penn State Behrend 3-0 in an NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship first round match played today on Cozzens Field.
The Lions (12-9) held the Herons (14-2-3) scoreless for nearly 50 minutes, before William Smith took the momentum from the first goal at the 49:49 mark to net two more in a 15 minute-span to advance to the second round tomorrow against the winner of SUNY Cortland and Springfield.
"We had a great performance from the players and fought hard against a quality opposition," said head coach Patrick O'Driscoll. "I am very proud of what this team accomplished this year and how we represented the AMCC in the NCAA Tournament."
Taylor Troyan (Butler, PA/Butler) not only had 12 saves, but she made some stops off crosses and corner kicks that kept the Herons off the board in the first half. Seniors Valerie Wagner (Pittsburgh, PA/Montour) and Julia Schroeck (Fairview, PA/Fairview) had the best two opportunities for Behrend in the second half.
After outshooting the Lions 16-0 in the first half, William Smith broke through in the 50th minute. Troyan punched out a corner kick sent in by MaryClarie Pelletier but Whitney Frary gathered the rebound and drilled a shot through a crowd in front of the goal and in the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Brenna Kincaid made it 2-0 in the 62nd minute. She carried the ball into the box and was pressured by the Lions' defense but Kincaid regained control and fired into the back of the net on a sliding chip shot that just cleared Troyan.
In the 65th the Herons extended their lead to three. Frary took a free kick for William Smith at the top of the box. She sent it into Madeline Buckley who was cutting in from the right side and sent a shot into the left side of the goal.
Behrend had its best scoring chance with just under eight minutes remaining. Wagner broke through the William Smith defense and fired a shot on goal, but junior goalie Chelsea Dunay was there to make the stop.
The Lions finished the season with a 12-9 overall record, winning their second straight AMCC Championship.