November 11, 2006

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Liberty League Player of the Year, junior Laura Burnett-Kurie (Oyster River/Durham, N.H.) broke a scoreless tie with a breakaway goal in the 74th minute to give William Smith College a 1-0 win over St. John Fisher College in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Upstate Tournament semifinal.

The Herons will face Utica College in the championship match on Nov. 12, at 1 p.m.

Both teams had opportunities in the scoreless first half. The Herons nearly scored two minutes into the game when Fisher keeper Stacey Gable (Derby, N.Y.) stopped Burnett-Kurie on a shot and then again on attempt off the rebound.

William Smith (11-6-2) controlled the play in the second half, but Fisher was able to keep the Herons off the board, until William Smith back Tracy Stankavage (Chittenango/Chittenango, N.Y.) sent Burnett-Kurie in alone for the game-winner. It was the 10th goal of the season for the Liberty League Player of the Year.

Senior Nikki Dudley (Chittenango/Chittenango, N.Y.) had two saves for her eighth shutout of the season. Gable played the first half and registered four saves for the Cardinals, while Ashley Martin (Marcellus, N.Y.) had seven second-half saves to keep the game close.

The Skidmore Sports Information Office contributed to this release.

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