Herons shake off Seahawks in OT

GENEVA, N.Y.- William Smith College first-year Mia LaPlante scored the game-winning goal 58 seconds into overtime to lift the Herons past Salve Regina 3-2 in a non-conference contest at The Cooler this evening.
 
Following a defensive zone faceoff win by LaPlante, junior Julia Mings broke down the right wing and into the offensive zone. She cut to her left and fired a shot on goal that was turned aside by Madison Jalbert. LaPlante pounced on the rebound and wired a shot into the upper right corner of the cage. It was LaPlante's first collegiate goal.
 
Junior Alison Weiss led the way for William Smith recording a career-high two goals. Junior Olivia Williams made 22 saves in goal for the Herons.
 
Nicole Schneiders and Amanda Fantasia scored Salve Regina's goals.. Jalbert was strong between the pipes, making 42 saves in just under 61 minutes of action.
 
Weiss opened the scoring 5:57 into the first period with a power-play goal. She won a battle along the boards, carried the puck into the slot and wristed a shot over Jalbert's glove for her first goal of the season. Just under a minute later, the Seahawks tied the game on Nicole Schneiders first goal of the season. Schneiders forced a turnover below the goal line and threw the puck on goal. It glanced off Williams' skate and into the back of the net.
 
At the 12:20 mark of the second period, Weiss notched her second goal of the game. She picked up a rebound in the low slot and flipped the puck past Jalbert. Junior Marykate Martino and first-year Annika Paletzki were credited with assists on the goal.
 
Fantasia tied the game 2-2 at the 19:40 mark of the third period with her first goal of the season. She forced a turnover at her own blue line and raced the length of the rink. Fantasia fired a shot from along the goal line the deflected off a defender and into the back of the net.
 
William Smith finished the game with a 45-24 advantage in shots on goal. The Herons were 1-for-6 on the power play while Salve Regina was 0-for-4 with the extra attacker.
 
The Herons and Seahawks will wrap up the season series tomorrow afternoon, Nov. 2. Faceoff at The Cooler is scheduled for 4 p.m.