The second-ranked William Smith lacrosse team jumped out to an 8-1 lead and never looked back as it knocked off St. John Fisher, which was receiving votes in this week’s polls, 16-5 in a non-conference contest on Boswell Field this afternoon. With the win, the Herons are now 8-0 on the season.
Senior Maddie Montgomery led William Smith with seven points on five goals and two assists. It was her second seven-point game in the Herons’ last three contests. She added a game-high seven draw controls. Seniors Molly Davis (2g, 1a) and Allie McGinty (2g, 1a) and sophomore Natalie Daniels(2g, 1a) added three points each. Junior defender Nicole Pio had a game-high three caused turnovers and added a ground ball. Junior Maura Smeaderplayed all 60 minutes in goal and made 10 saves.
St. John Fisher (2-6) was led by Farah Zalla, who had two goals. In total, four different players scored for the Cardinals. Sydney Carpenter had a team-high six draw controls. Kaylee Gadol started in goal and made 10 saves.
STREAKING
- With this afternoon’s win, the Herons extend their home winning streak to 35 games.
- McGinty extended her point streak to 51 games with her three points against the Cardinals.
- Montgomery has scored at least one goal in 45 straight games. That tally includes 16 straight multi-goal games. Montgomery has scored at least three goals in all eight games this season.
KEY STATS
- William Smith finished the game with a 31-17 advantage in shots, a 14-9 lead in the draw circle and an 11-10 edge in ground balls.
- William Smith was 15-for-16 in clear attempts and St. John Fisher was 10-for-12.
SCORING SUMMARY
- William Smith opened the scoring just under four minutes into the game. Molly Davis beat a defender and ripped a shot past Gadol for her 12th goal of the season. The unassisted tally was a woman-up goal.
- Daniels gave the Herons a 2-0 lead with 5:56 left in the first. She picked up a ball behind the cage rolled to the front and ripped an underhanded shout past the goalie. It was her 21st goal of the year.
- One minute later, McGinty picked up her eighth goal of the season, extending the lead to 3-0. It was an unassisted tally.
- Graduate student Eliza Wild gave William Smith a 4-0 lead with 2:54 left in the first. Her second goal of the season was unassisted.
- Seventy-two seconds later, Davis scored her second woman-up goal of the game. Her 13th goal of the season was assisted by Montgomery.
- Montgomery rounded out the scoring in the first quarter with her 30th goal of the year.
- The Cardinals momentarily halted the William Smith run when Farrah Zalla slipped a shot past Smeader.
- William Smith scored the next two goals, to take an 8-1 lead with 9:37 left in the half. First-year Kira Fulton collected a feed from Daniels and ripped a shot past Gardol for her first collegiate goal. Montgomery notched her second goal of the game three minutes later. She weaved through traffic and bounced a shot into the back of the net.
- Mary Fiorentino converted a free position attempt to bring St. John Fisher back within six, but that was as close as the Cardinals would get.
- William Smith scored the half’s final four goals to take a 12-2 lead after 30 minutes. Daniels started the run with her 22nd goal of the season. It was an unassisted tally. Two minutes later, Hannah Evans collected a feed from Montgomery and beat Gardol for her 14th goal of the year.
- With 3:15 remaining in the frame, sophomore Delaney Cassidy scored her first collegiate goal, converting on a free position attempt. She cut to the middle of the eight-meter arc and fired a shot into the back of the net. One minute later Evans notched her second goal of the game. Her 15th goal of the season was assisted by McGinty.
- Montgomery scored the game’s next two goals, extending William Smith’s run to six goals. Her 32nd goal of the season was assisted by Davis. Her 33rd of the year was a free position attempt.
- Zalla and Emma Biel scored late in the third quarter to make it 14-4 after 45 minutes.
- McGinty and Montgomery scored two minutes apart in the fourth quarter. It was their ninth and 34th goals of the season, respectively.
- Dharma Makarowsky rounded out the scoring for the Cardinals.
UP NEXT
William Smith will be back in action on Saturday, March 30, when it welcomes Skidmore to Boswell Field. Opening draw is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].