The seventh-ranked William Smith lacrosse team was edged by 10th-tanked Ithaca 11-10 in overtime in the Liberty League Championship game at Higgins Stadium this afternoon. The Herons are now 17-3 overall this season.
Ithaca is 17-1 overall and earned the Liberty League’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. William Smith awaits its fate as an at-large bid. The 2024 NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Tournament field will be announced tomorrow, May 6, at 10:30 a.m. on NCAA.com.
Sophomore Natalie Daniels led the Herons with four points on three goals and an assist. She also had three draw controls. Senior Maddie Montgomery also had a hat trick and had four draw controls, three caused turnovers and six ground balls. First-year Janey Sypeck also had three caused turnovers. Junior Maura Smeader made nine saves in just under 61 minutes of work.
Sydney Phillips, who was named the tournament’s most outstanding performer, had a game-high five goals, including the game-winning goal. Lily Cody had four points on two goals and two assists. Caroline Wise had 10 draw controls, two caused turnovers and two ground balls. Lexi Held made 13 saves in the Ithaca goal.
STREAKING
- With two goals today, Allie McGinty extended her point streak to 62 straight games.
KEY STATS
- William Smith finished the game with a 35-28 edge in shots on goal and a 23-16 advantage in ground balls.
- Ithaca had an edge in draw controls 14-10.
- William Smith was 18-of-19 clearing the ball and Ithaca was 19-for-23.
MATCH MOMENTS
- The first nine minutes of the game were a strong defensive battle with both goalies coming up with key saves.
- Ithaca finally broke the deadlock with 6:29 left in the opening frame. Chloe Nordyke dodged around a defender and slipped a shot past Smeader for her 30th goal of the season. Twenty seconds later, Maizy Veitch notched her 51st goal of the year on a feed from Lilly Cody.
- William Smith answered back with 1:50 left in regulation. McGinty fired home a feed from senior Katherine Murray. Daniels tied the game with seven seconds left in the frame. Her 62nd goal of the season unassisted.
- Ithaca opened the second quarter on a four-goal run to take a 6-2 lead with 8:14 left in the half. Phillips started the run, dunking home a feed from Lily Cody. Three minutes later, Leigh Naturale bounced home a pass from Nordyke. A minute later, Cody scored her 40th of the season. Phillips concluded her hat trick with a woman-up goal with 8:14 left in the frame.
- Montgomery halted the run with a free position shot with three minutes left in the half. It was her 68th goal of the year. Montgomery then made it 6-4 with eight seconds left in the half off a feed from Molly Davis. It was her 69th goal of the year.
- Ithaca extended its lead back to four goals, striking for the first two goals of the second half. Lexi Kellish notched a woman-up goal 37 seconds into the half and then Sydney Phillips scored on a feed from Maizy Veitch. It would be the last goal the Bombers would score for 20 minutes.
- William Smith scored the game’s next six goals to take a 10-4 lead. Montgomery started the run with her 70th goal of the year. She is the first Heron in program history with three 70-plus goal seasons. Two minutes later, Murray pocketed her 23rd goal of the season. Daniels scored the final two goals of the quarter to make it 8-8. They were her 63rd and 64th goals of the season.
- The Herons took their first lead of the game with 10:39 remaining in regulation on Davis’ free position goal. It was her 29th of the season. McGinty gave the Herons a two-goal lead with 7:48 remaining it was her 29th goal of the year.
- With 2:01 remaining in regulation Phillips made it 10-9 with her 52nd goal of the season. It was assisted by Nordyke. The Bombers tied the game with 17 seconds remaining in regulation on a woman-up goal from Lily Cody.
- Phillips won the game with her fifth goal just under a minute into the extra session. She collected a pass from Wise, turned and fired a shot past Smeader. It was her 53rd goal of the year.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].