November 10, 200

GENEVA, N.Y.--The William Smith College soccer team had its 15-game unbeaten streak snapped this afternoon in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament, dropping a 1-0 decision to visiting Amherst College. The Jeffs improve to 15-4-1, eclipsing the Amherst record for wins in a season, while the Herons finish the 2001 campaign at 17-2-1, one win shy of the William Smith record.

The Herons went on the attack from the opening whistle, forcing junior goalie Brooke Diamond (Loomis Chaffee/Longmeadow, Mass.) into a pair of saves in the first three minutes. She finished with seven saves.

The Jeffs mounted their first counterstrike in the match's 12th minute. Leading scorer, senior Cathy Poor (Deerfield Academy/Harwich Port, Mass.) challenged William Smith's top defender, senior Felicia Crump (The Lawrenceville School/Marlboro, N.J.). Crump made a great slide tackle near the top of the penalty area, but first-year striker Adrienne Showler (Lisgar Collegiate Institute/Ottawa, Ontario) came rushing in unmarked, firing a 10-yard shot from the right side, and giving Amherst the early lead.

The Herons, making their record-breaking 15th consecutive NCAA appearance, had two excellent scoring opportunities in the later stages of the first half. In the 39th minute, junior Kristin Perrigo (Liverpool/Liverpool, N.Y.) took a shot on a wide open net, but junior stopper Katharine Shipley (Newton North/Newton, Mass.) rushed in at the last second and cleared the ball off the goal line. Three minutes later, first-year Michelle Smith (G. Ray Bodley/Fulton, N.Y.) rifled a shot on net, but Diamond made a great save.

William Smith held an 8-3 advantage on shots and a 4-0 advantage on corner kicks, but trailed 1-0 at halftime.

In the second half, the play evened out, as Amherst had several scoring chances, but senior goalie Leah Cornwell (Wheatland-Chili/Caledonia, N.Y.) made six saves to keep the Herons' hopes alive. William Smith got its best scoring chance of the second half in the 82nd minute, but a strong header from sophomore Stephanie Leveille (Ossining/Ossining, N.Y.) was stopped by a diving Diamond.

Amherst will face the winner of the Wheaton (Ill.) College/University of Scranton quarterfinal in the semifinals on Nov. 17.

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