William Smith Director of Athletics Deb Steward recently announced plans for the Heron Lacrosse Weekend Celebration. The College will welcome back alumnae, family, and friends March 25-27 for a full slate of events, including the recognition of five William Smith College Teams of Distinction.

At 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 26, the Herons will dedicate the Pat Price Genovese William Smith Lacrosse Team Room in the newly renovated Elliott Varsity House at the Caird Center for Sports and Recreation. Named in honor of legendary Head Coach Pat Price Genovese by former and current players and their families, the William Smith Lacrosse Team Room features beautifully crafted oak lockers equipped to meet the individual storage needs of each team member. A whiteboard and flat screen television convert the team room into a communications hub for reviewing digital video, training presentations, and team meetings.

Following the Hobart-Fairfield lacrosse game at noon, the William Smith lacrosse team will host Geneseo at 3 p.m. on Boswell Field.

At halftime, William Smith will honor five new Teams of Distinction, the 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995 Heron lacrosse teams. Those five teams combined for 77 wins against just eight losses. All five teams advanced to the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament championship game. The Teams of Distinction will be formally honored at a dinner in the Vandervort Room of the Scandling Campus Center at 6:30 p.m.

The 1988 Herons posted an overall record of 15-3. After a 3-2 start to the year, they rattled off 12 straight victories to reach the NCAA title tilt. The 1992 William Smith lacrosse team hit the ground running carrying a 15-0 record into the NCAA championship game, at the time a record for consecutive wins. A year later, the Herons went 15-2 overall, using a 14-game winning streak to reach the season's final game. The 1994 William Smith laxers eclipsed the win streak record with 16 straight triumphs, a feat matched by the 1995 squad, who also finished the year 16-1.

All five of the Teams of Distinction won the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association Championship before commencing their NCAA Tournament run. Seven student-athletes from these amazing teams have been honored with induction into the Heron Hall of Honor, including Jennifer Bertsch Dolce '95 and Amy Hoover '95, who played in four national championship games during their careers.

The Team of Distinction Award was created in 2007 by the Heron Society Board of Directors to pay tribute to William Smith College intercollegiate teams of the past for their outstanding achievements in their respective athletic arenas and for their contributions to the athletic legacy of William Smith College.

The annual Heron lacrosse alumnae game will cap the weekend's festivities. Play is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 27 on Boswell Field.

The full slate of events during the weekend celebration can be found online at www.HWSAthletics.com/2011celebration.