POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 28, 2008) - In a match-up of two unbeaten teams, it took sudden victory to decide which one would remain undefeated, as the William Smith womens lacrosse team escaped with a 13-12 Liberty League win over Vassar College on Friday at Prentiss Field.

The Brewers, who have never defeated William Smith, fall to 4-1, 0-1 in the Liberty League. Vassar is on the road for its next seven games, traveling to Union College and Skidmore College on Friday and Saturday. The Herons improve to 4-0, picking up their first League victory. William Smith next hosts SUNY-Cortland on Tuesday.

After a scoreless overtime, it took the Herons just 46 seconds in the sudden victory period to find the net. Junior Nina Sperry (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) notched the winning score, maneuvering herself to good position in front of the net to whip a shot into the goal.

Playing from behind for most of the first half, the Brewers went on a scoring spree in the second half, netting seven unanswered goals in less than 10 minutes. During the massive momentum swing, Katama Martellucci (Montclare, PA/The Hill School), Christine Castellan (Media, PA/Pencrest High), and Christine Eaccarino (Old Saybrook, CT/Old Saybrook) scored two goals apiece with freshman Sarah Warner (Ipswich, MA/Waring School) rounding out the scoring. Following the 7-0 run, the Brewers found themselves with a 12-7 lead with 14:20 to play.

However, the Herons battled back, going on their own 5-0 run to send the game into overtime. Brittany Callaghan (Armonk, NY/St. Lukes School) scored the equalizing goal, off a free position shot, with just 43 seconds to play. Following the face-off, the Herons gained possession, but the Brewers came up with a crucial stop to send the game into overtime.

Neither team could find the net in the first overtime, as both goalies came up with big saves. Brewer Ariel Nelson (Greenlawn, NY/Harborfields) stopped two point-blank shots, while Heron Becky Josefiak (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca East) came up with a tough save on a free-position shot with 22 seconds left to play in the second period.

In the first half, William Smith jumped out to an early lead off Sarah Davidsons (South Burlington, VT/South Burlington) unassisted goal 42 seconds into the game. Warner responded for the Brewers with a free-position shot, but after Jesse McKenna (Wenham, MA/Middlesex School) broke the tie on an assist from Rachel Stahl (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker), the Herons maintained their lead for over 31 minutes.

William Smith out-shot Vassar 36-26, but Nelsons 19 saves helped keep the Brewers in the game. Josefiak had 10 saves on the day, with Morgan Baird (Gloucester, MA/Pingree School) contributing time and making one save.

Eaccarino netted a game-high four goals, along with one assist. Warner, Martellucci, and Castellan scored two goals apiece, while Jennie McAllister (Bayshore, NY/Bayshore) chipped in with one goal and one assist, and Liz Pacheco (Dresher, PA/Mount St. Joseph) rounded out the Brewer scoring with a goal.

Stahl led the Hersons with three goals and one assist while Callaghan, Molly Fitzgerald (Sudbury, MA/Gould Academy), and Michaela Parnell (Guilford, CT/Guilford) scored two goals apiece. Sperry, McKenna, Davidson, and Sarah Goodkind (Greenwich, CT/Millbrook School) each scored one goal.

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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.-The 14th-ranked William Smith College lacrosse team defeated Vassar College 13-12 in sudden victory this afternoon in the first Liberty League contest for both teams. Junior Nina Sperry (Daniel Hand/Madison, Conn.) scored the winning goal, helping the Herons improve to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the Liberty League. The Brewers fall to 4-1 on the season and 0-1 in league play.

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2008-03-28