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Dennis, Saucier lead Herons back to title tilt
November 3, 2006
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Sophie Dennis |
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Liz Saucier |
GENEVA, N.Y.—The 10th-ranked and top seeded William Smith College field hockey team opened the Liberty League Championship Tournament with a 4-1 victory over fourth-seeded Rensselaer. Senior Sophie Dennis (Dana L. West/Port Byron, N.Y.) scored three first half goals, while classmate Liz Saucier (Old Town/Old Town, Maine) handed out a pair of assists to book the Herons a spot in the conference championship match.
Dennis recorded her ninth career hat trick and raised her season points total to 65, two shy of the record set by Kimberly O’Gorman ’88 in 1987. Saucier’s two helpers raised her season total to 15, tying the record set by Nicky Livingston ’02 in 2000.
The Red Hawks (9-10) jumped out an early lead. In the seventh minute, sophomore goalie Katie DeKraker (Staples/Westport, Conn.) kicked away the first shot she faced, but the rebound came right to sophomore Sara Stylinski (Southington/Southington, Conn.), who scored from the top of the shooting circle. DeKraker finished with two saves.
Dennis tied the match six minutes later, tipping home a feed by Saucier. Dennis sent the Herons (15-3) into halftime with a 3-1 lead, netting back-to-back goals three minutes and six seconds apart. The first, in the 22nd minute, was assisted by junior Brittney Paye (Clinton/Clinton, N.Y.). The second was unassisted.
In the second half, Saucier tied the season assists record in the 55th minute, setting up senior Ashley Barker’s (Cape Elizabeth/Cape Elizabeth, Maine) 11th goal of the season.
Rensselaer senior goalie Jen O’Neil (Pinkerton Academy/Derry, N.H.) completed a busy contest with 12 saves.
William Smith will face St. Lawrence University, a 5-2 winner over No. 18 Skidmore, in the championship match at 2 p.m. on Nov. 4. The winner receives the Liberty League’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Fans unable to make it to McCooey Field for the Liberty League Championship can follow the action online.