GENEVA, N.Y. - The 13th-ranked William Smith College lacrosse team improved to a perfect 7-0 this afternoon, with a 12-10 victory over Lycoming College on Day 1 of the Heron Draw. The Lady Warriors dropped to 6-4 on the season.

Sophomore Molly Fitzgerald (Gould Academy/Sudbury, Mass.) led William Smith with four goals and an assist, while classmate Sarah Goodkind (Millbrook School/Greenwich, Conn.) added three goals, and senior Rachel Stahl (C.W. Baker/Baldwinsville, N.Y.) tallied a goal and two helpers. Senior Sarah Davidson (South Burlington/South Burlington, Vt.) scored twice for the Herons as well.

Senior Megan Wallenhorst (Irondequoit/Rochester, N.Y.) led the Lady Warriors with five goals and an assist, while senior Heather Suit (Broadneck/Annapolis, Md.) set up three tallies.

Lycoming got on the board first, as sophomore Sammi Jo Bell (Maple Shade/Maple Shade, N.J.) scored off an assist from classmate Justine Titko (Northern Burlington/Wrightstown, N.J.). Fitzgerald and Stahl answered for the Herons, as they combined for the first three goals to give William Smith a 3-1 lead at the 17 minute, 25 second mark.

The Lady Warriors came right back, tying the game at 3-3 following back-to-back goals from juniors Sarah Wingerden (Pal-Mac/Macedon, N.Y.) and Kelly Mack (New Egypt/New Egypt, N.J.). The tie was short-lived, as Goodkind found the back of the net with 11:10 left in the first half, giving the Herons the lead for good. The teams traded goals to end the half, and William Smith held a 6-4 lead at the break.

The Herons began the second half with goals from Goodkind and Davidson, increasing their lead to 8-4 in less than four minutes. Lycoming would not go away, as Suit set up Wallenhorst for two tallies 15 seconds apart. Suit went on to set up junior Crystal Cody (Irondequoit/Rochester, N.Y.) with 14:57 left to play, cutting the Herons' lead to 8-7.

William Smith would not allow the Lady Warriors to get closer, as Fitzgerald netted two in the final minutes of play, and junior Michaela Parnell (Guilford/Guilford, Conn.) went coast-to-coast for a score of her own to give the hosts a 12-8 advantage.

Lycoming had one last run, as Wallenhorst and Laura Carpenter (Cape Henlopen/Lewes, Del.) tallied in the final 1:15 of the contest.

Senior Heron goalie Morgan Baird (Pingree School/Gloucester, Mass.) picked up seven saves en route to her third win of the season, while senior Lady Warrior Kristina Peacock (Webster-Thomas/Webster, N.Y.) collected 10.

The Herons will be back in action tomorrow, April 6, as they take on Denison at 1:30 in the final game of the Heron Draw.

2008-04-05