Keogh sets school record as William Smith advances in NCAAs

Courtesy: HWS Athletics

William Smith College forward Julia Keogh’s goal in the 72nd minute lifted the Herons to a 2-1 victory over Hamilton in an NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship second round game played on Cozzens Field. With her 21st goal of the season, Keogh now holds the William Smith single-season record for goals, surpassing the previous record held by Joan Grupp ’88 and Ann Haggerty ’92., who had 20 goals in 1987 and 1988, respectively.
 
With their 17th consecutive victory, William Smith is now 18-1-1 overall this season. The Herons advance to the third round for the sixth straight time. William Smith will face Misericordia, which is ranked fourth in the United Soccer Coaches poll. The game is Saturday at 3:30 in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The Continentals (14-3-2) had the game’s first dangerous scoring chance in the eighth minute, but Rylie Mutton’s shot just missed the right goal post. A minute later, Emma Gaulin fired a shot wide right. At the opposite end of the field, Merilyn Hinrichs nearly opened the scoring, but Caity Smith made a diving stop to her left. In the 16th minute, Sheila McQuillen had an opportunity from 20-yards out. Her right-footed shot fooled the Hamilton goalie, who was moving forward and to her left, but the well-placed shot hit the junction of the right goal post and the crossbar.  
 
The Herons broke through in the 36th minute when Katrine Berg fired home a shot from seven yards out into the left half of the cage. It was her third goal in as many games. Seneca Blakely-Armitage was credited with an assist on the goal after her initial shot was blocked by a Hamilton defender.
 
The Continentals came out of the halftime break and attempted to tie the game. Mutton and Leah Basel had shots blocked by William Smith defenders in the 48th minute. Two minutes later, Hyla Mosher had a shot ticketed for the lower right corner of the cage stopped by Amanda Kesler.
 
William Smith turned the tide in its favor in the 66th minute, but Amanda Adams’ shot from just outside the 18-yard box was stuffed by a defender. In the 72nd minute, Keogh scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal. Adams played a through ball past the defensive line and onto the left foot of Keogh. With the goalie charging out of her cage to make a play on the ball, Keogh chipped a shot into the upper left corner of the cage.
 
Mutton ended Kesler’s shutout bid in the 79th minute, burying a shot from inside the 18-yard box for her eighth goal of the season. Caroline Dawson was credited with an assist on the goal.