GENEVA, NY (October 19, 2007) – Vassar's field hockey team battled No. 12 nationally ranked William Smith, the Liberty League's top team, to a 0-0 scoreless first half, but was unable to withstand a strong offensive push by the Herons, losing Friday afternoon 3-0.

With the victory, William Smith (11-3, 6-0) wrapped up the first seed in the Liberty League Tournament. Vassar drops to 3-10 (0-6) and will face Rochester on Saturday afternoon at 5:00 pm. William Smith hosts RPI at 2:00 pm.

The Herons benefited from 23 shots on goal, while the Brewers, who defeated Western Connecticut 1-0 in their last game, were unable to get off only one second half shot, which was a breakaway shot coming from freshman forward Jessica Lance (Enfield, CT/Enfield). William Smith junior goalie Katie DeKraker (Wesport, CT/Staples)posted her fifth shutout of the year.

William Smith broke a scoreless game seven minutes into the second half, at 42:10, when sophomore midfielder Janelle Walkley (Tioga Center, NY/Tioga) scored on a penalty stroke goal against second half Vassar goalie Ellie Pomerantz (Hartsdale, NY/The Hackley School). Pomerantz made three saves in the game and faced eight shots. She falls to 1-6, 0-3.

The Herons upped their lead to 2-0 just 90 seconds later, when junior forward Kelsey Landabl (Delevan, NY/Pioneer) scored her seventh goal of the season off an assist from Brittney Paye (Clinton, NY/Clinton).
Landabl wasn't finished, however. She increased the William Smith lead to 3-0 in the 47th minute, scoring her second game and eighth of the season off a feed from sophomore forward Kaitlyn Hamilton (Harpursville, NY/Harpursville).

The teams played a scoreless first half, and not unlike previous Liberty League games, the Brewers showed great resolve and defensive fortitude. Starting goalie Taylor Herman (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) faced 14 shots and made six saves.