CLINTON, N.Y.-Union, winners of the two previous conference
tournament women's soccer championships, will not add a third
Liberty League title to its resume this year.
William Smith avenged an earlier loss at the hands of the Dutchwomen by
capturing a 1-0 victory on Hamilton's Love Field. The Herons will meet the top-seeded Continentals, who defeated
Skidmore, 2-0, for the tournament title and the automatic NCAA berth that goes
with it.
Hamilton, 3-0, defeated the men's soccer team, which
was making its first-ever Liberty League tournament appearance. The second-seeded Continentals will play
top-ranked St. Lawrence, which beat Rensselaer, 3-0, for the title.
Dutchwomen drop pair in Volleyball Opener
The women's volleyball team opened its bid for
the Liberty League championship against defending champion, and host,
Vassar and lost three games to one. Fourth-seeded Clarkson then upset the third-seeded Dutchwomen, 3-2. The Brewers won the first two games, 30-22 and 30-26, before Union captured a 30-28 decision. Vassar, however, won game four, 30-23. Union opened its series against Clarkson with a 30-25 victory before losing the next two matches, 30-15 and 33-31. The Dutchwomen tied things up with a 30-25 victory, but lost the tie-breaker, 15-12.
The Dutchwomen face top-seeded Skidmore Saturday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. and play St. Lawrence at 1:00
Warner's Goal is the Difference
Kate Warner scored in the 52nd minute to lead No. 24
William Smith (13-2-2) past the 14th-ranked Dutchwomen (16-2-1). Warner's first
shot from close range hit the post and came right back to her. She then slid
the ball past Union goalkeeper Julie Gawronksi for her fourth goal this year. Nikki Dudley made seven saves for
the Herons, who will play in their third straight league title game. Gawronski stopped three shots and
surrendered just her fourth goal all year.
The game was played in blistering conditions with a constant
strong, chilling wind causing a rain-sleet mix to fall on the teams throughout
the afternoon. The Dutchwomen opened
the first half with the wind but could not get the ball past Dudley despite a
6-3 shot on goal advantage at the break.
Union is now 16-2-1 and must wait to see if it receives an
at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
The Dutchwomen have been to the national event each of the last five
years. The setback broke Union's
10-game win streak.
Hamilton Defeats the Dutchmen, 3-0
CLINTON, N.Y.-The
Continentals improved to 11-3-1 with their win over the Dutchmen at Sandy
MacAllaster Field.
Ian Hildebrand scored what
turned out to be the game-winner in the seventh minute before Greg Rogan made
it 2-0 seven minutes later.
Hildebrand's second goal of
the day came in the 47th minute to ice the victory.
Matt Mayerhofer made three
saves in net for the Dutchmen while Anthony
Tripicchio made one save for
the Continentals.
Union, which saw its
five-game unbeaten steak end (5-0-1) is now 10-7-1 on the year.