The fifth-ranked William Smith Herons women’s lacrosse saw its season end Sunday afternoon with an 11-10 loss to 20th-ranked Williams Ephs women’s lacrosse in an NCAA Tournament second-round matchup at Boswell Field. William Smith closed the game on a 5-2 run and had a final shot at the buzzer, but the Ephs held on to finish the Herons’ season at 17-3 while advancing to the third round at 11-7.
Senior Taryn Luzi led William Smith with four goals and an assist, while Mia Falco and Kira Fulton each added three points. Grace Rund controlled the draw circle with a game-high seven draw controls, helping the Herons finish with a 15-8 advantage on draws. Delaney Cassidy delivered one of the game’s biggest moments late in the fourth quarter, forcing a turnover before weaving through defenders for a goal that cut the deficit to 11-10 with 61 seconds remaining.
William Smith opened the game with an early lead and later used a three-goal burst late in the third quarter to climb back within one after Williams built a 9-5 advantage. Falco, Luzi and Fulton all contributed during the rally, but the Herons could never fully erase the deficit. Williams goalkeeper Charlotte Cote made seven saves, while William Smith struck the post five times in the loss.
The defeat also marked the end of a decorated senior class that helped guide the Herons to four NCAA Tournament appearances, two national semifinal trips and 72 victories over four seasons, the second-most wins by a graduating class in program history.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].