GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College lacrosse team cruised to a 17-2 win over Bard in a Liberty League game played this afternoon on Boswell Field. Sophomore Ali Burns and first-year Bizzer Gahagan each logged hat tricks in the victory.
 
The Herons improve to 8-7 overall and 7-1 in the Liberty League, while the Raptors fall to 4-11 and 0-8. William Smith has secured a spot in the Liberty League tournament. The seedings will be determined following this weekend's Liberty League games.
 
Sophomore Sarah Benyo also notched three points for the Herons on two goals and an assist. Sophomore Kelsi Carr chipped in two goals and a game-high four ground balls as well as three draws. Sophomore Melissa Moore won a game-high seven draws and added a goal and a caused turnover. Her seven draws tie for third on the Heron list for draw controls in a game. Junior Allie Flaherty won four draws, picked up two ground balls, scored a goal and had an assist. Junior Alexandra Bird produced a goal and an assist and had two ground balls and a caused turnover. Sophomore Cat Wolf caused two turnovers and earned an assist. Junior goalie Sarah Honan played the first 25:41 and stopped the lone shot she faced. Senior Allie O'Hara came in for the final 34:19 and made one save.
 
Casey Witte and Nicole Ellin scored for the Raptors. Witte and Alexandra Clarke each won two draws. Clarke also recorded two ground balls. Dylan McDonald picked up a team-high three ground balls and caused two turnovers. Kaylynn Tran played all 60 minutes in goal and made three saves.
 
The Herons built a 12-0 lead in the first half. Burns struck first 1:24 into the game with a low bouncing shot. Flaherty fed senior Geneva Calder at 3:05 to make it 2-0. Flaherty scored a goal of her own just under a minute later. A free position goal by Benyo, her first goal of the season, made it 4-0 with 16:27 left in the first. Senior Hannah Connolly scored her team-leading 26th goal of the year which was followed by a free position tally by Burns to make it 6-0 with 14:52 before the break. Carr found the back of the net, and thirty seconds later Benyo notched her second of the afternoon. With 5:01 on the clock, Bird scored her 23rd goal of the season. Benyo set up Gahagan for a 10-0 advantage. Bird then assisted on another goal by Carr and Burns completed her hat trick before halftime.
 
William Smith registered the first three goals of the second half to make it 15-0. Gahagan logged her second of the day, followed by a free position goal by Moore. First-year Maddie Schmitt recorded her first collegiate goal with 17:19 left in the game. Witte then broke through for Bard with 13:08 on the clock. It was her 23rd goal this year. Ellin followed with a free position goal, her 26th goal this year, for the Raptors to make it 15-2. Gahagan closed out her hat trick for William Smith with 8:06 remaining, and first-year Liz McAnaney rounded out the scoring with her first collegiate goal at 5:55 off a feed from Wolf.
 
The Herons held a 28-4 advantage in shots, a 19-11 lead in ground balls and a 16-5 upper hand in draws. William Smith was successful on 9-of-10 clear attempts, while Bard succeeded one 5-of-12 tries.
 
The Herons will be back in action tomorrow, April 30, when they host Vassar for another Liberty League game, their final of the regular season, at 3 p.m.