Herons to Host NCAA tournament
8 November 2011 Herons to Host NCAA tournament
William Smith College will host the first and second rounds of the 2011 NCAA Division III Womens Soccer Championship this weekend, Nov. 12-13. The second-ranked Herons will play Lancaster Bible at 11 a.m. on Saturday, followed by Wheaton (Mass.) taking on Salisbury at 1:30 p.m. The winners will meet on Sunday at 1 p.m. to play for a spot in the third round.
The Herons earned an automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Tournament after earning their fifth straight Liberty League tournament title. William Smith topped St. Lawrence 4-0 in the semifinal, and then defeated Skidmore 3-0 in the tournament championship match. The Herons are now 16-0-1 overall and are going into their 25th postseason appearance. It will be the 22nd time William Smith has participated in the NCAA Tournament.
First-year Dineo Mmutla leads the Herons with 20 points on eight goals and four assists. Junior Whitney Frary is right behind her with 19 points on seven goals and a team-high five assists. Senior goalie Amanda Davis is sporting a 0.06 goals against average and a .952 save percentage. She has posted 11 shutouts this fall.
The Chargers are 18-1-1, and are making their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Lancaster Bible fell to Penn State Abington in the North Eastern Athletic Conference Final, 4-2 on penalty kicks, but received the conferences automatic bid, because Penn State Abington is not a full NCAA member. Ally Brown leads the team with 49 points on 18 goals and 13 assists. Whitney Heise has recorded a team-high 19 goals and five assists for 43 points. Emily Lloyd has played every minute in goal and has recorded a 0.49 goals against average and a .880 save percentage. She has logged 12 shutouts.
Fans unable to make it to Cozzens Field can follow the action online with Live Stats and Live Video.