Box Score
Box Score

GENEVA, N.Y. – Junior attack Molly Fitzgerald scored a game-best six goals, including four in the second half to lead #18 William Smith College to a 17-10 come-from-behind victory over Rensselaer in the Liberty League opener for both teams. The Herons improve to 4-0 overall while the Red Hawks drop to 3-3 on the season.

Holding a 6-5 lead at the halftime, RPI saw its advantage disappear early in the second half as William Smith fired off four straight goals, including a pair from Fitzgerald (Sudbury, MA/Gould Academy), to take a 9-6 advantage with 21:44 remaining.

The homestanding Herons continued to dominate following a free-position shot by Rensselaer's Afton Marshall (Windham, NH/Salem), scoring seven straight goals over the next seven minutes to lead 15-7 with 7:11 remaining in the game.

RPI tried to make a comeback in the waning minutes as sophomore Stephanie Caouette (Wynantskill, NY/Columbia), junior Sam Fennessey (Gansevoort, NY/Saratoga Springs) and Marshall added goals, but it wasn't enough.

In addition to Fitzgerald, the Herons saw Lucy Johnson (Short Hills, NJ/Millburn) add three goals and an assist. Senior Michaela Parnell (Guilford, CT/Guilford) and junior Brittany Callaghan (Armonk, NY/St. Luke's School) each had three goals while junior Sarah Goodkind (Greenwich, CT/Millbrook School) had a goal and two assists.

Senior goalie Rebecca Josefiak (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca East) picked up the win, stopping seven.

For Rensselaer, Marshall finished with four goals and an assist while Fennessey and junior Whitney Kukol (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) tallied two goals apiece. Senior Kerri Clark (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) added a goal and two assists while junior netminder Ariana Hood (Severn, MD/Old Mill) posted eight saves in the loss.

RPI returns to action on Saturday when it travels to #1 Hamilton for a 2pm match-up with the defending national champions. The Herons host Vassar, also on Saturday, at 2pm.