GENEVA, NY- The University of Rochester field hockey team fought hard, but coundn't overcome a strong #11 ranked William Smith team en route to falling 3-1 in the Liberty League Championship game Saturday afternoon.
 
The loss drops UR to 16-5 on the season, still a program best mark in wins, and the 2nd place finish in the Liberty League tournament is a UR best in field hockey as well.  William Smith moves to 16-3 on the season and remained perfect in conference play this season.  The win gives the Herons an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament which starts next week.  Rochester will wait and see if their results in 2012 are good enough to receive and at-large bid into the tournament.
 
The game was played very evenly to start with neither team generating a shot in the first 10 minutes of the game.  UR took the only penalty corner in that time, coming at 3:17.
 
The home Herons then got on the board first when Liberty League player of the year Annie Kietzman found the back of the net after she one timed a pass from teammate Melanie O'Connor that came from outside the circle.
 
William Smith made it 2-0 late in the first half when Margaret McConnell scored unassisted at 32:30.  She driblled right down the middle of the circle and fired her shot past UR keeper Madison Wagner as she was falling to the ground.
 
In the second half, the Herons made it 3-0 when Caitlin Moran found the back of the cage at 46:10.  Her rebound slap shot came from the left slot after her initial attempt was blocked by the defense.
 
UR was able to score late to keep the hope alive when junior Katie Flaschner scored her 10th of the season at 64:15.  The centering pass came from classmate Lindsey Randall and UR's captain who was the hero in the semifinals against Skidmore was able to tuck her shot just inside the right post.
 
For the game, Catherine Hare picked up the win making six saves in the William Smith goal while Wagner made four stops for UR.
 
The Yellowjackets had more corners (9-6) but William Smith outshot UR by a slim 11-10 margin.
 
The Liberty League All-Tournament Team featured four UR players: Wagner, Flaschner, Randall and defender Sarah Dixon.