GENEVA, N.Y. -- Head Coach Pat Genovese earned victory No. 250 today as the William Smith College lacrosse team defeated No. 19 Nazareth College, 13-9. The only coach the Heron lacrosse team has ever known, Genovese has more wins than any collegiate women's lacrosse coach. Since 1971, William Smith is 250-92-1 (.730) under Genovese. Only Ursinus College (412), the College of New Jersey (290), and Swarthmore College (290) have more wins in Division III competition.
Now in her 28th season, Genovese has established William Smith as one of the elite programs in the nation. In the past 13 seasons, she has guided the Herons to 11 New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) titles and 12 NCAA Tournament bids, leading the team to the Division III semifinals 10 times. William Smith returned to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth consecutive year in 1999 and 12th overall. Under the direction of Genovese, the Herons have been NCAA Tournament finalists five times (1988, 1992-95), and finished third in the nation on five occasions (1987, 1989, 1991, 1997, 1999).
Genovese has been named the Division III National Coach of the Year three times, Regional Coach of the Year three times, and State Coach of the Year twice. Also a three-time coach of the North-South Game, Genovese has tutored 79 Herons to All-American status, while she's had five players earn the prestigious Player of the Year Award.
An assistant director of athletics at William Smith, Genovese also coached the field hockey team to a record of 123-98-5 from 1971 through 1987. She led that squad to three state titles, an NCAA Division III regional title, and a trip to its first NCAA Division III championship game in 1987.
A magna cum laude graduate of SUNY Cortland, Genovese earned a master's degree from Ithaca College. She was inducted into the SUNY Cortland "C"-Club Hall of Fame in 1990, the Rochester/Western New York Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1998, and the William Smith Athletics Hall of Honor in 1999. In 1998, Genovese received the NYSWCAA Service Award for her contributions to women's athletics.
The following list includes selected highlights from Genovese's 250 wins at William Smith:
No. 1, May 15, 1972 - Jean Collins scored two goals to give Genovese and William Smith its first-ever victory, a rain-shortened 6-4 decision over visiting Syracuse University. The Herons finished 1-1 in 1972, played only one game in 1973, and resumed varsity competition in 1976.
No. 7, April 26, 1979 - Eight different players scored as host William Smith blanked Wells College, 19-0. It marked the first of five shutout victories in the history of Heron lacrosse, the most recent occurring on April 13, 1991, against Union College (20-0). Against Wells, Stephanie Christie netted four goals, while Nancy Choate, Betsy Saunders, and Candy Kappel all had three goals.
No. 47, May 12, 1985 - In the ECAC Mid-Atlantic Championship game, William Smith overcame an 8-6 halftime deficit and outlasted host Ithaca College, 14-11. Anne Jachney finished with four goals, while Lisa Raab and Karen Carpenter each had three goals. Alison Spear turned away 12 Bomber shots on goal.
No. 50, April 11, 1986 - The Herons forced 40 Hartwick turnovers and defeated the visiting Hawks, 8-2, despite snowfall and 30-degree temperatures at game time. Karen Carpenter and Sarah Warriner provided two goals apiece, and Alison Spear recorded nine saves.
No. 67, May 6, 1987 - At Granville, Ohio, the Herons earned their first NCAA Division III Tournament win with a 14-5 drubbing of previously undefeated Denison University. Karen Carpenter had a season-high five goals, Heather Dwinell contributed four goals and an assist, and Alison Spear registered 11 saves.
No. 80, May 1, 1988 - Tournament Most Valuable Player Karen Carpenter scored the game-winning goal with 1:32 remaining, and the Herons claimed their first NYSWCAA title with a 14-13 victory over St. Lawrence University.
No. 100, April 6, 1990 - Heather Dwinell fired home six goals and the Herons withstood a late Hartwick rally to defeat the visiting Hawks, 16-12. Kate Perry finished with three goals and two assists, and netminder Courtney Hutchinson finished with eight saves.
No. 150, March 21, 1994 - Amy Hoover and Jennifer Bertsch both had four goals and two assists to lead William Smith to a season-opening 17-13 win over Williams College in Florida. Sarah Daniels stopped 16 shots on goal.
No. 200, April 5, 1997 - Lisa Krug's four goals and Sarah Daly's one goal and three assists propelled the Herons to a 12-7 victory at Rensselaer. William Smith outscored the Red Hawks 4-1 in the second half, and for the game, outshot Rensselaer 26-12.
-- HWS SPORTS --
