October 26, 2002

GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College soccer team remained undefeated at home, beating UCAA foe Rensselaer 3-0 in its final regular season conference match of the year. The Herons improve to 12-2-3 and 5-1-1 in UCAA play, while the Engineers fall to 9-4-1 and 4-3-0 in the conference.

William Smith controlled the tempo and the run of play in the opening 45 minutes, firing seven shots on goal and allowing none from Rensselaer. Junior Arin Belden (Warsaw/Warsaw, N.Y.) opened up scoring for the Herons in the 20th minute, putting a Steph Gridley (Auburn/Auburn, N.Y.) cross in the back of the net. Despite taking 16 shots in the first half, William Smith only went into halftime with a 1-0 lead. Senior Maria Paoff (East-Syracuse Minoa/East Syracuse, N.Y.) changed that in the 60th minute, when she beat her defender one on one and slipped the ball past the RPI goalie on the near post for her fifth goal of the year. Sporting a 2-0 lead, seniors Alyson Stachura (Pittsford Sutherland/Pittsford, N.Y.) and Kristin Falzarano (Morristown/Morris Plains, N.J.) combined to add an insurance goal for the Herons.

Senior Leah Cornwell (Wheatland Chili/Scottsville, N.Y.) recorded her sixth shutout of the year, making three saves on the afternoon. Engineers goalie Andrea Hamill (Mahopac/Mahopac, N.Y.) played a solid 90 minutes in goal, pulling in eight saves.

The Herons will play their final regular season game on Nov. 2, hosting non-conference opponent Cortland State at 1 p.m.

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