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Dillon’s 6 goals lift Herons past Vassar
April 22, 2005
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Sophomore Sarah Dillon netted a game-
high six goals to lead William Smith to at
12-11 victory over Vassar. |
GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith College sophomore midfielder Sarah Dillon (Blair Academy/Oldwick, N.J.) fired home a free position shot with 43 seconds remaining to lift the Heron lacrosse team to a 12-11 victory over Liberty League opponent Vassar College this afternoon on McCooey Field. Dillon finished the contest with a game-high six goals, including the final two of the contest.
Trailing 11-10 to the Brewers with less than two minutes to play in regulation, Dillon tallied her fifth goal of the game and 34th of the season with 1:37 on the clock to tie the score (11-11). Vassar won the ensuing draw, but could not hold on to the ball as William Smith forced a turnover, taking over possession with 1:23 remaining.
Dillon got the ball at the top of the fan and drove to the goal, scoring what appeared to be the game-winner, but the referee had already whistled the Brewers for a foul and awarded the Herons’ leading scorer a free position attempt. Dillon stepped up and took three steps and rifled her shot past goaltender Ariel Nelson (Harborfields/Greenlawn, N.Y.) to secure the league win for William Smith.
The opening 30 minutes was a tale of two halves. William Smith (6-7, 3-4 Liberty League) first-year Rachel Stahl (Charles W. Baker/Baldwinsville, N.Y.) put the Herons up with the first of her three goals 2:34 into the game with her seventh score of the year.
However, the Brewers (6-6, 1-5 Liberty League) took control of the next 15 minute, scoring six unanswered for a 6-1 lead at the 12:32 mark of the first stanza. First-year Christine Castellan (Penncrest/Media, Pa.) paced the run for the Brewers with two scores.
William Smith responded in a big way, netting the game’s next nine goals, including eight in the final 12:07 to close the half with a 9-6 advantage. Dillon and Stahl were responsible for six tallies during the streak.
After the Herons went up 10-6 early in the second half, Vassar senior Emilie Moeckel (Tatnall/Wilmington, Del.) took control for the Brewers scoring three goals and adding an assist as Vassar jumped ahead by one 11-10 with 5:30 left to play and setting up the exciting finish by William Smith.
Moeckel led all Vassar scorers with five points (3-2), while Castellan and Kristin Hogan (The Park School/Ellicott City, Md.) chipped in three points apiece.
The Herons outshot the Brewers 34-24 and won the ground ball battle 35-21. In goal, Nelson made 13 stops for Vassar, while first-year goalkeepers Morgan Baird (Pingree School/Gloucester, Mass.)and Adele Hayward (Hyde School/Windchester, Mass.) combined for six saves for William Smith.
The Herons close out their home schedule tomorrow, April 23, hosting Liberty League foe Rensselaer at 2 p.m., on McCooey Field.