 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
One-eyed goal lifts Herons to OT upset
 |
|
Sophie Dennis '07 celebrates her game-winning
goal in overtime against Skidmore. |
October 25, 2003
GENEVA, N.Y.—The hero of the game wasn’t available for postgame interviews. First-year forward Sophie Dennis (Dana L. West/Port Byron, N.Y.) was on her way to the hospital for stitches.
The William Smith College field hockey team’s leading scorer left the 18th-ranked Herons showdown with No. 7 Skidmore College five minutes before halftime with a nasty welt and cut near her right eye, the result of a ball and stick to the head.
After icing the wound to reduce swelling, Dennis was cleared to return 15 minutes into the second frame, and it’s a good thing. She scored the only goal of the contest, 2:01 into the first overtime session, to lift the Herons to victory. Junior Sarah Silverio (Radnor/Villanova, Pa.) set up the game-winner with a perfectly placed crossing pass.
The loss ended Skidmore’s 12-game win streak and marked the first time the Thoroughbreds (13-2, 6-1 UCAA) had been shutout since Oct. 16, 2002 (a 4-0 loss to Hartwick). It also marked the first time William Smith (12-4, 7-0 UCAA) had defeated their league rival since Sept. 22, 2001—another overtime decision, 2-1.
“We put together a really strong defensive effort against a very powerful Skidmore offense,” Head Coach Sally Scatton said. “It’s what you expect when two quality opponents come together, [NCAA] Tournament level hockey.”
Both teams had scoring opportunities during regulation, but both goalkeepers were up to the task.
William Smith’s best chance came at the 29:02 mark when Dennis beat back a rebound from three yards out, but senior goalie Jenna Spackman (Newton North/W. Newton, Mass.) caught just enough of the ball with her left heel as it went between her pads to direct it just wide of the cage. Spackman finished with 11 saves.
Skidmore got its best scoring chance midway through the second half. Senior midfielder Hallory Mogren (Profile/Sugar Hill, N.H.) received a pass on the back door of the Herons’ cage and sent a screamer towards the wide side, but senior Jessica Kulesa (Garden City/Garden City, N.Y.) made a spectacular kick save to preserve the shutout. She finished with four saves.
The win gives the Herons the right to host the UCAA Tournament, Nov. 8-9. Top-seeded William Smith will face No. 4 Rensselaer in the first semifinal, while the No. 2 Thoroughbreds will square off with No. 3 St. Lawrence.
The Herons close out the regular season at 1 p.m., on Nov. 1, when they host Nazareth College.