SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's soccer team saw its eight-match unbeaten streak come to an end on Saturday afternoon, as the Garnet Chargers dropped their first Liberty League game and first home game of the season by a 2-0 score to #12 William Smith College at College Park Field.
The loss bumps Union (6-4-6, 4-1-3 Liberty League) down to third place in the conference standings with one match remaining, two points back of second-place Vassar College. Union currently can secure a top-three seed with a win in next Saturday's regular-season finale at St. Lawrence University, while the Garnet Chargers would need a win and a Vassar loss to Clarkson University to make it into the top-two.
William Smith (12-3-0, 8-0-0 Liberty League) got on the board first in the 37th minute, when Grace Metzler scored at the near post after a free kick was inadvertently headed away from senior goalie
Maya Koster. The home team managed just two off-target shot attempts in the opening 45 minutes.
Union created some more chances in the second half, but it was the Herons that scored the frame's only goal to seal the win. Just over 13 minutes into the frame, Grace Sudbay struck from about 30 yards out to double the advantage. The Garnet Chargers took four of the game's final six shots after that point, but three saves from Antonia Goerke preserved the shutout for the visitors.
Koster and Goerke both made three saves on the afternoon, as William Smith posted a 13-6 edge in shots.
The Garnet Chargers will look to sure up their postseason positioning next Saturday at St. Lawrence.
