Box Score | 2013 Schedule & Results

GENEVA, NY -- Julia Simmons scored two goals to lead William Smith past Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Liberty League field hockey action on Friday afternoon at McCooey Memorial Field. The Engineers drop to 3-5 overall, with an 0-1 league record, while the Herons improve to 8-0 and 1-0 in Liberty League play. 

William Smith didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard, as the Herons got a goal from Julia Simmons (Littleton, CO/Colorado Academy) just four and a half minutes into play. Caitlin Moran (Garwood, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) sent a crossing pass from the right side of the circle, where Simmons tapped the ball in past RPI goalkeeper Hannah Clough (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxborough Regional). Hough played an outstanding rest of the half, however, making five saves to keep the Engineers within one goal at the half. 

William Smith came out firing once again to start the second half, and scored the second goal of the game 2:45 into the stanza. Taylor Capello (Windsor, NY/Windsor) controlled the ball deep into the circle, where she was able to get a turn-around shot off and into the back of the cage. Capello later assisted on the Herons' third score, passing the ball to Simmons, whose soft shot dribbled over the goal line to give William Smith a 3-0 advantage. 

Rensselaer got on the board late in the game to avoid the shutout, as sophomore Hana Murphy (Westport, MA/Tilton School) scored her first goal of the season. After an initial penalty corner by the Engineers, Murphy poked the ball in the goal on the far post to cut the RPI deficit to 3-1, with about 12 minutes left to play. Despite a valiant effort in the waning minutes, RPI was unable to find the back of the cage again, giving William Smith the victory.

William Smith outshot RPI, 20-10, while the Engineers held a 10-9 advantage in penalty corners. Clough made double-digit saves for the fifth time this season, stopping 10 Heron shots. William Smith goalkeeper Amy Feda (Watertown, CT/Taft School) recorded four saves between the pipes for the Herons. 

Rensselaer will return to action on Saturday, continuing the westward Liberty League swing with a game at Rochester, starting at 4 p.m.