October 14, 2006

Sophie Dennis scored her team-leading 21st goal of the year to lift the Herons over Lebanon Valley in overtime. (Photo by Kevin Colton)

GENEVA, N.Y.—Senior Sophie Dennis (Dana L. West/Port Byron, N.Y.) scored with just 33 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the seventh-ranked William Smith College field hockey team over No. 11 Lebanon Valley College in a non-conference match on McCooey Field. The win raises the Herons’ record to 12-2, while the loss snaps the Flying Dutchwomen’s eight-game winning streak and drops their record to 12-2.

In the waning seconds of the 15-minute overtime, Dennis gained possession 10-yard into William Smith’s defensive half, carried the ball unguarded for 40 yards, made one move on an LVC defender to free herself for a one-on-one with senior goalie Katie Pawlewicz (Holy Name/Reading, Pa.). With Pawlewicz out of the cage trying to cut down the angle, Dennis took a shot as she fell to the turf that slipped inside the far side post for her team-leading 21st goal of the year.

Lebanon Valley held a decisive edge in the first half, outshooting William Smith 8-2, but neither team found the back of the cage.

After the defenses stole the spotlight in the first half, the offenses came alive in the second half. Senior Brooke Atwood (Marathon/Marathon, N.Y.) got the Herons on the board first, firing home a feed from senior Liz Saucier (Old Town/Old Town, Maine) on a penalty corner in the 45th minute.

The Dutchwomen answered four minutes later when junior Alyssa Stine (Twin Valley/Birdsboro, Pa.) tipped a drive by sophomore Krista Freitag (Cumberland/Bridgeton, N.J.). LVC took the lead in the 64th minute on a two-on-one against sophomore goalie Katie DeKraker (Staples/Westport, Conn.). A cross-crease pass from senior Steph Marguglio (Bridgeton/Bridgeton, N.J.) to first-year Danielle Blase (William Tennent/Warminster, Pa.) made the quick score look easy.

Sophomore Leila Higgins (Groton School/Peapack, N.J.) forced the extra session with an unassisted goal in the 67th minute. Saucier made the goal possible putting a shot on Pawlewicz, the rebound finding its way onto Higgins’ stick.

DeKraker earned the win with four saves, while Pawlewicz also made four stops.

William Smith returns to action on Oct. 20, when the Herons travel to Skidmore. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

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