GETTYSBURG, Pa.—In a defensive battle on Clark Field, No. 4 Gettysburg College held off the William Smith College lacrosse team, earning a 4-2 win in an NCAA tournament second round game. The Herons finished their season with a 12-8 overall record.
 
William Smith made its 18th appearance in the NCAA tournament, earning its first NCAA appearance and first Liberty League championship title since 2004.
 
William Smith lacrosse's four seniors, Geneva Calder, Hannah Connolly, Emy Stratton and Allie O'Hara, missed graduation day on campus, as they finished out their four-year Heron careers. Geneva Calder and Connolly each scored in the final game. The seniors helped the Herons to 37 wins, three Liberty League tournament, a Liberty League title, and a trip to the NCAA tournament in their four years.
 
The William Smith defense limited Gettysburg to its lowest goal total this season, and lowest since April 29, 2007, when the Bullets scored four goals in a 14-4 loss to then No. 1 Franklin & Marshall, a team coached by now William Smith Head Coach Anne Phillips.
 
Junior goalie Sarah Honan played all 60 minutes and made eight saves. She added two ground balls and two caused turnovers. Junior Allie Flaherty also recorded two ground balls and two caused turnovers. She won a game-high three draws.
 
Maggie Connolly led Gettysburg with two goals and an assist. She shared a team-high with three ground balls and caused two turnovers. Christina Wright picked up three ground balls and caused two turnovers.
 
Gettysburg scored the first goal of the game, but not until 6:51 in. Emily Tropsa scored after a quick feed from Katie Landry to give the Bullets a 1-0 lead. Gettysburg banged a shot off the post on a free position chance with 11:35 to go, and with 7:30 left in the first, Honan came up with a huge save on a point blank shot by Katie Willis, during a William Smith woman-down situation. Connolly had a free position chance for the Bullets with 3:46 on the clock, but Honan once again made the big stop.
 
With 30 seconds left in the first, Calder tied up the game on a perfectly placed across the body bounce shot. It was her 19th goal of the season. Then with three seconds to go Connolly gave William Smith a 2-1 lead going into the break. The Herons came up with the draw and found Connolly for a one-on-one with the Bullets' keeper, Shannon Keeler. Connolly drilled her shot into the back of the net. It was Connolly's team-leading 37th goal this year.
 
After forcing a turnover on Gettysburg's first possession of the second half, Honan denied a shot on the doorstep by Katie Landry 2:30 in. The Bullets tied the game up at 2-2 on a free position goal by Maggie Connolly 3:34 into the second half. With 20:05 to go, Abby Baigelman sent a low free position shot on goal, and yet again, Honan denied the Bullets' scoring chance to preserve the tie. Hannah Connolly fired a shot from right in front with 15 minutes to go, but it was stopped by Keeler. With 13:30 to go, Willis took back the lead for Gettysburg with a bounce shot after a quick pass from Maggie Connolly. Connolly then scored a goal of her own on a free position chance with 8:23 remaining to give the Bullets a 4-2 lead.
 
William Smith had a chance to get within one with 7:03 to go. Connolly had a free position chance, but the ball was knocked out of her stick before she was able to get the shot off. Connolly had another shot in the final minute, but Keeler stood tall and made the stop. She finished with six saves for Gettysburg.
 
The Bullets held an 18-10 advantage in shots and a 21-13 edge in ground balls. William Smith controlled the draw winning six, while Gettysburg only came away with one. The Herons were successful on 10-of-17 clear attempts, and the Bullets were successful on 11-of-15 tries.
 
William Smith finished its season with a 6.45 goals against average which ranks fourth on the Heron single season list, and its 220 caused turnovers this year rank third in Heron history. Geneva Calder finished her career seventh on the William Smith list with 68 caused turnovers and 14th with 84 career draws. Connolly finished her Heron career tied for 11th with 53 career assists, tied for 15th in points with 166 and 18th with 113 goals.
 
Gettysburg (17-2) advances to the NCAA tournament third round, where they will face Amherst on Saturday, May 21.