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Herons win ECAC Upstate Championship
November 12, 2006
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Tournament MVP Ali Art with Head |
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—After playing 120 minutes of scoreless soccer, William Smith College won the Eastern College Athletic Conference Upstate Women's Soccer Tournament 3-0 in penalty kicks over Utica College, at Skidmore College's Wachenheim Field.
William Smith sophomore back Ali Art (Herricks/Manhasset Hills, N.Y.) was named the tournament MVP after anchoring a Heron defense that did not allow a goal in 200 minutes of tournament play.
The game goes down as a tie for the two teams. William Smith finishes the season 11-6-3, while Utica is 11-8-2.
The Herons dominated the game, outshooting Utica 15-3. Pioneer goalie Ashley Kaufman stopped all 10 shots she faced, including a one-on-one with William Smith sophomore Julie Bernay (Newport Harbor/Newport Beach, Calif.) in the first overtime.
Liberty League Player of the Year Laura Burnett-Kurie (Oyster River/Durham, N.H.) opened the penalty kicks, going to her left for the score and a 1-0 William Smith lead. Utica's Kelly Regan missed wide left. Sophomore Katie Compton (The Loomis Chaffee School/West Hartford, Conn.) made it 2-0 low right.
Heron senior keeper Nikki Dudley (Chittenango/Chittenango, N.Y.) saved Rachel Tinao's offering. Sophomore Rayza Santiago (Webster Schroeder/Webster, N.Y.) made it 3-0 for William Smith. Sarah Richards tried to keep Utica in the shootout, but her shot sailed high.
The Skidmore Sports Information Office contributed to this release.