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Herons advance to ECAC Semifinals with 3-1 win
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Senior Kristin Perrigio (#7) watches her game-winner
slip past Plattsburgh keeper Joia Aliperti. |
November 12, 2003
GENEVA, N.Y.—Senior Steph Leveille (Ossining/Ossining, N.Y.)Steph Gridley (Auburn/Auburn, N.Y.) both notched a goal and an assist to lead third seed William Smith College to a 3-1 victory over sixth seed SUNY Plattsburgh in the ECAC Northeast Women’s Soccer Tournament. The Herons advance to the semifinals to play second seeded Geneseo.
With neither team able to generate any dangerous scoring chances in the opening ten minutes, the Cardinals (14-7-0) capitalized on the first opportunity they got in the 12th minute. Awarded a free kick on the right side of the penalty box, Plattsburgh served the ball in and had it knocked around before Kim McGrath (Wilbraham & Monson/Massena, N.Y.) settled it and sent it to Teresa Barber (Stillwater/Mechanicville, N.Y.) who knocked it in.
Six minutes later the Herons (13-5-2) tied the game with a picture perfect goal from Gridley. Sophomore defender Pria Young (Council Rock/Richboro, Pa.) sent a great flighted ball into the penalty box where Gridley volleyed it past the Cardinal goalie. Senior forward Kristin Perrigo (Liverpool/Liverpool, N.Y.) put William Smith ahead for good in the 31st minute, taking a through ball from Leveille and beating Joia Aliperti (Commack/Commack, N.Y.) one on one for her eighth goal of the season and seventh game-winner.
Leveille found the back of the net for the fourth time this season with 20 seconds left in the half, capitalizing on a failed clearance by Plattsburgh for a 3-1 lead at the break. Both teams had good looks at the goal in the second stanza but were unable to close the deal as the Herons captured the 3-1 victory.
Rookie Nikki Dudley (Chittenango/Canastota, N.Y.) went the distance, making six saves, while Alperti and Sara Laroche (Missisquoi Valley/Swanton, Vt.) combined for four saves.
William Smith will play SUNY Geneseo in the ECAC Semifinal at top-seeded Nazareth College on Nov. 15, at 1:30 p.m. The Herons are looking to avenge the 3-0 loss suffered at the hands of the Blue Knights in the 2003 season opener.