The William Smith lacrosse team will open the 2014 season when it travels to Pittsford, N.Y., on Saturday to take on St. John Fisher at 1 p.m. The Herons return 13 from last year's roster and welcome 11 first-years to the squad.

The 2013 Herons earned a berth in the Liberty League tournament for the second year in a row and finished the season with a 10-7 overall record and a 7-2 mark in league play. This year's Herons were voted by the conference coaches to finish second in the Liberty League.

William Smith brings a depth and versatility into this season that is very exciting to the coaching staff. They return a strong force of players from last year and have seen true leadership from every class in the preseason. The newcomers bring a high level of energy and have impressed with their dedication on and off the field. William Smith will face some challenges early in the year with four of its first six opponents being nationally-ranked, but the Herons are looking to learn from the aggressiveness of their tough competition early on and bring that level of aggressiveness into Liberty League play.
 
Here's a position by position look at this year's Herons:

ATTACK:

Junior Katie Sipple, who earned all-region honors in 2013, will serve as a leader on the offensive end along with sophomore Hannah Connolly. Sipple led the Herons last season with 72 points and 44 assists. Connolly ranked third on the team with 30 goals and 44 points in her rookie season. Also returning at attack are sophomores Meg Hannan and Kate Byrne.  Hannan played in 12 games and notched seven goals, while Byrne saw time in eight games and notched four goals and two assists. First-years Julia Wasserman, Alexandra Bird and Abbey Foote will also be looking to make an impact for William Smith this season.

MIDFIELD:

The Herons have three returners at the midfield position in junior Hayley Braun and sophomores Geneva Calder and Emy Stratton. First-years Geneva Waite, Allie Flaherty and Emily Friend bring even more depth for the Herons at the position. Calder and Braun each played in all 17 games last spring. Braun posted six goals and added an assist to go along with 23 ground balls, eight caused turnovers and 10 draws, while Calder registered nine goals, five helpers, 16 ground balls 12 caused turnovers and seven draws. Stratton returns after playing in only four games last year due to an injury. She logged a goal, an assist and two draws in her rookie season.

DEFENSE:

William Smith returns 2013 All-American defender Rachel Hughes as well as its lone senior Micailah Adee. The Heron also have experienced leaders in juniors Cat Gorman and Taylor Anderson on defense. Hughes led the team with 56 ground balls, 31 caused turnovers and 41 draws in 2013. A starter in every game, she also contributed offensively with four goals and three assists. Adee also started all 17 games last spring. She picked up five ground balls and won four draws. Gorman, a starter in every game and a 2013 All-Liberty League selection, ranked third on the team with 13 caused turnovers and scooped up 22 ground balls. She came away with 20 draws and contributed four goals. Anderson played in 15 games, starting five. She notched 11 ground balls, seven caused turnovers and three draws.

Sophomore Gabi Bush returns after battling an injury as a first-year. Four first-years, Amy Blanchard, Emily Ott, Jackie Rogers and Kristina Garnett bring more versatility for William Smith at the defensive end, which will allow for some of the more experience defenders to step up to make more of an impact on the other end of the field.

GOALIE:

Sophomore Allie O'Hara returns in goal and is joined by first-year Sarah Honan. O'Hara and Honan have been pushing each other throughout preseason. Honan is still gaining experience, but has been a steady force in the goal in practice. O'Hara, who saw time in six games last year, brings great speed and high intensity.

The Herons open the season at No. 17 St. John Fisher on Saturday, March 1, at 1 p.m. William Smith will play its home opener on Wednesday, March 5, when it hosts No. 4 Cortland on Boswell Field at 4 p.m. The Herons will once again travel to Orlando, Fla., for two games over spring break, and William Smith opens Liberty League play on March 28, when it hosts St. Lawrence at 4 p.m.