William Smith Upends W&J In NCAA First Round
GENEVA, N.Y. – The Washington & Jefferson College field hockey team saw its 2011 season come to an end Wednesday at the hands of William Smith College by a score of 2-0 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament at McCooey Field.
William Smith (16-4), the nation's 13th-ranked squad, advanced to the second round where it will face The College of New Jersey on Saturday in Ewing, N. J.
Senior goalkeeper Shelby Colyer (Oxford, Ohio/Talawanda) made a season-best 10 saves as the Presidents ended their most successful season in school history with a record of 14-5. Colyer recorded seven first-half stops and was aided by a defensive save by senior defender Hannah Lott (Aspers, Pa./Biglersville) that thwarted a shot headed towards an empty net for the Herons.
The Herons struck for the game’s first goal midway through the first half when Annie Kietzman dribbled through the Presidents’ defense and netted a point-blank shot. Colyer's goalkeeping kept William Smith at bay and W&J trailed by just one at halftime despite being outshot by a 15-0 margin and surrendering 16 penalty corners.
The Presidents threatened with three penalty corners leading to three shots on goal during a four-minute span early in the second half, but the William Smith defense held W&J off the scoreboard.
Following the Presidents’ offensive flurry, William Smith tacked on an insurance goal with 21 minutes remaining. Caitlin Moran blasted her first career goal into the back of the net.
W&J finished with four shots, while the Herons took 22 overall shots, 12 of which were on net. William Smith held a 20-3 advantage in penalty corner attempts. Catherine Hare played all 70 minutes for the Herons and finished with three saves.
The Presidents, who made their first NCAA Division III Tournament appearance, claimed the first Empire 8 Conference Championship to earn a spot in the national tournament field. W&J is led by Head Coach Jomara Coghlan, a two-time Empire 8 Coach of the Year.
