GENEVA , N.Y. - William Smith College senior Emilie Sauvayre's goal in the 81st minute lifted the third-ranked Herons to a 1-0 victory over Rensselaer in a Liberty League contest on Cozzens Field this afternoon. With the win, William Smith is now 10-1-1 overall and 6-0-0 in Liberty League play.
 
In the 80th minute, the Herons drew a foul just outside the 18-yard box. Sauvayre stepped up to take the free kick and fired a shot over the wall and into the lower left corner of the cage. It was her second goal of the season and the fourth game-winning goal of her career.
 
The Herons controlled the first half outshooting the Engineers 6-0. Junior Sheila McQuillen had the game's first scoring opportunity from the top of the penalty box but the shot was turned aside by Joey Lyons.   Sauvayre had a chance in the 34th minute but the shot was smothered by Lyons.
 
RPI (5-5-2, 2-3-0) recorded its only two shots of the game in the second half but both were dangerous. Just over a minute into the half, Whitney Wisnom, the Engineers leading scorer, had the better of the two chances. She forced a turnover near midfield, deked around a defender, and fired a shot off the crossbar. Olenka Soko's 64th minute shot was smothered by Amanda Kesler.
 
McQuillen nearly opened the scoring in the 72nd minute but her heel flick, from directly in front of the cage, was stopped by Lyons.
 
William Smith finished the game with an 11-2 advantage in shots and a 2-0 edge in corner kicks.
 
Kesler played all 90 minutes in goal for the Herons and made one save. Lyons made six saves in 90 minutes for RPI.
 
William Smith will be back in action tomorrow, Oct. 19, when it welcomes Union to Cozzens Field (2pm). RPI travels to RIT tomorrow (2pm).