November 4, 2001

GENEVA, N.Y.--The William Smith College soccer team staged a dramatic last-minute, come-from-behind effort to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament. The Herons tied Union College through 150 minutes, 1-1, but continue their quest for a second national championship (1988) by virtue of a 4-3 advantage on penalty kicks.

The Dutchwomen, who finish the season with a 15-3-1 record, took a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute. Senior Lauren Byrne (Northport/Northport, N.Y.) broke free on the left side and fired a shot from inside the box that William Smith goalie Leah Cornwell (Wheatland-Chili/Caledonia, N.Y.) deflected across the front of the goal. Union sophomore Stephanie Molé (Newton North/Newton, Mass.) came streaking in from the right to finish the rebound before Cornwell could recover.

The Herons (17-1-1) controlled the majority of the tempo of the match from that point on. William Smith had several scoring chances, but couldn't solve the Dutchwomen's keeper, junior Carolyn Stead (Deering/Portland, Maine). In addition to Stead's five saves in regulation, the Herons hit the left post in the 24th minute, the crossbar in the 25th minute, and the right post in the 60th minute.

Stead finished with eight saves, while Cornwell registered five.

William Smith began to feel the squeeze of time, still trailing as the match moved into the final minute of regulation. Senior back Felicia Crump (Marlboro, N.J.) started the game-tying play, crossing the ball from the right side to the top of the box. Junior Maria Paoff (East Syracuse-Minoa/East Syracuse, N.Y.) headed the ball into the middle of the penalty area, where first-year Michelle Smith (G. Ray Bodley/Fulton, N.Y.) headed home the equalizer with just 48 seconds remaining in regulation.

Both teams intensified their defensive efforts in overtime and scoring chances almost disappeared entirely. The Herons outshot Union 18-9 in regulation and 29-11 for the match. William Smith came closest to registering the golden goal in the match's 136th minute, but junior Kristin Perrigo's (Liverpool/Liverpool, N.Y.) shot hit the crossbar.

In the penalty kick round, Union took the early lead when senior Stephanie Maychack (Averill Park/West Sand Lake, N.Y.) converted the first PK, and Stead stopped the first Heron attempt. William Smith pulled even when Union's second shot sailed wide, and senior Lauren Wendell (Cape Elizabeth/Cape Elizabeth, Maine) scored.

Sophomore Kerry Golcher (Princeton Day School/Ewing, N.J.) and junior Alyson Stachura (Pittsford Sutherland/Pittsford, N.Y.) traded goals to up the PK round score to 2-2.

Cornwell made a great diving save to her left to thwart Union's fourth attempt and senior Summer Greiner (East Syracuse-Minoa/Kirkville, N.Y.) scored to give William Smith a 3-2 advantage. Senior Margaret Kostro (Westfield/Westfield, N.J.) kept the Dutwomen's hopes alive, but Perrigo drove home the Herons final PK to extend William Smith's unbeaten streak to 15 games (14-0-1).

William Smith is expected to host New England Region Champion, Amherst, on Nov. 11 in the quarterfinals. An official announcement with game times and ticket prices will be made on Monday.

Back to William Smith Soccer