Follow the Herons to the NCAA Nationals
At a livestream party, Heron fans can continue to cheer on the William Smith soccer team as they compete in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer National Semifinals in San Antonio, Texas. The game will air in both the Café and Saga at noon on Friday, Dec. 2.
If the Herons are victorious on Friday, students can cheer them on in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships at 2:30 p.m. in the Café on Saturday, Dec. 3. At Saturday's livestream party, students can enjoy pizza, wings and soft drinks while supporting the Herons.
Anyone unable to watch the live stream of the game can tune into WHWS 105.7 FM to hear an expert play-by-play and commentary from Ted Baker and Suzanne Willard '99. The broadcast on WHWS starts at 11:45 a.m. and can also be heard online at www.whws.fm.
Baker is the voice of Hobart football and lacrosse. He is also the host of the Finger Lakes Morning News from 5:30-9 a.m. weekdays on WGVA 1240 AM and 96.1 FM. Willard currently serves as an associate director of admissions at HWS and previously served as an assistant soccer coach for the William Smith Herons. She was a college soccer coach at both the NCAA Division I and III levels.
In the national semifinals on Friday, William Smith will take on top-ranked Messiah at Blossom Soccer Stadium. It's the eighth time in William Smith history that the Herons have advanced to the national semifinals, and the third time in the past four years. In 2010, the Herons defeated Williams (1-0) to earn the trip to Texas where they battled Messiah.
Following a win on Friday, William Smith will face either Wheaton or Ithaca in the national championship game on Saturday.
The Herons gained 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. As Liberty League Champions, the Herons had a 16-0-1 record overall and were heading into their 25th postseason appearance. This year is the 22nd time William Smith has participated in the NCAA Tournament.
In the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship first round match, the William Smith soccer team cruised to a 6-0 win over Lancaster Bible College. In the second round, the Herons cruised to a 4-0 win over Williams College, giving them their opportunity to head to San Antonio for the semifinals.
The photo above features the winning goal that sent the Herons to the semifinals.
WHWS radio broadcast of the game