By Mackenzie Larson, HWS Athletic Communications
PITTSFORD, N.Y.—The fourth-ranked William Smith College lacrosse team scored the final four goals as it rallied for a 10-9 victory over St. John Fisher University at Growney Stadium this afternoon. With the win, the Herons are now 8-0 on the season for the first time since 2002.
Sophomore Katherine Murray led the way for the Herons with four points on two goals and two assists. Seniors Maddie Montgomery (2g, 1a) and Molly Davis (1g, 2a) also had three-point games. First-year Natalie Daniels had a team-high five draw controls. Junior Maddie Schleicher and sophomore Nikki Pio had two caused turnovers each. Sophomore Maura Smeader played all 60 minutes in goal and made five saves.
Mary Fiorentino recorded a game-high five points on three goals and two assists for the Cardinals (5-2). Sydney Carpenter had a team-high 10 draw controls. She also had three caused turnovers. Maddie Lowney had a game-high four ground balls. Lilly Goodsell made nine saves in the St. John Fisher goal.
KEY STATS
- William Smith finished the game with a 25-18 advantage in shots. The Herons also had a slight 12-11 edge in the draw circle and a 19-18 edge in ground balls.
- The Cardinals were 22-of24 clearing the ball and William Smith was 18-for-20.
- William Smith now has a 10-9 edge in the all-time series. Seven of the last eight meetings have been decided by one goal.
FIRST QUARTER
- The Herons jumped out to a 2-0 lead just under four minutes into the game. Senior Kaitlin Pellechia opened the scoring 39 seconds into the game. She collected a pass and beat Goodsell.
- Murray made it a two-goal game with a free position goal with 11:08 remaining in the first quarter.
- The Cardinals tied the game with a pair of goals 35 seconds apart. Hanna Kumpf netted a free position goal with 7:28 remaining in the half. She then set up a Courtney O’Dea’s goal.
- William Smith took a 3-2 lead with 5:06 remaining in the opening frame when Montgomery buried a behind the back shot. The goal was assisted by Murray.
- Both teams had chances late in the quarter turned aside by the goalies.
SECOND QUARTER
- Fisher controlled the second quarter scoring four unanswered goals to build a 6-3 lead with 9:44 remaining in the half.
- Carpenter started the run 56 seconds into the quarter. She collected a pass from Kumpf and bounced it past Smeader.
- Just under a minute later, Fiorentino netted her first goal of the game. Just over a minute later, she set up Farrah Zalla’s goal.
- Fiorentino added a second goal to give St. John Fisher its largest lead of the day with 9:44 remaining in the frame.
- Junior Chloe McGlynn snapped the Cardinals’ run with a fee position goal with just under seven minutes remaining in the half.
- Two minutes later, Pellechia collected a pass from Davis and ripped a shot past Goodsell.
THIRD QUARTER
- Just over three minutes into the second half, William Smith tied the game on a Davis free position shot.
- The Cardinals quickly regained the lead when Mykenzie Black collected a pass from Fiorentino and beat Smeader. Two minutes later, Fiorention completed her hat trick off a feed from Carpenter.
- Kaley Griffin gave the Cardinals a 9-6 lead, but that would be the last goal that St. John Fisher would score.
- Montgomery’s second goal of the game was assisted by Murray. It came with 4:05 remaining in the third quarter and started a 4-0 run for William Smith.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Allie McGinty scored 20 seconds into the final frame to make it a one-goal game. Montgomery was awarded an assist on the goal. The tally extended McGinty’s point streak to 29 games.
- Murray tied the game with 7:06 remaining in regulation. Her second goal of the night was assisted by McGinty.
- Natalie Daniels wrapped up the scoring with 3:35 remaining in the game. The game-winning goal was an unassisted tally.
UP NEXT
William Smith will be back in action Saturday, April 1, when it heads to Saratoga Springs to take on Skidmore College. The opening draw is scheduled for noon.
