The No. 4 William Smith College soccer team cruised to an 8-1 victory over Elmira In its season opener played in Elmira, N.Y., this afternoon.
 
It's the first time the Herons and Elmira have met since 2007. Senior Ella McMackin and sophomore Megan Richard each notched a goal and two assists. Senior Kara Shue chipped in two assists and sophomore Sarah Olick-Sutphen registered a goal and an assist.
 
William Smith built a 3-0 lead in the first half. Just 1:30 in, junior Evie Manning registered the first goal of the 2016 season off an assist from Shue. Manning took her shot from eight yards out and slid it past the diving Soaring Eagles' keeper. At 26:32 in, Olick-Sutphen made it 2-0 on a shot from 15 yards out on the far side. Junior Lauren Kogelmann set up the play. Just under four minutes later, senior Emma Diehl made it 3-0 off a Heron corner kick. Shue was credited with the assist.
 
William Smith added four more goals before Elmira got on the board. Senior Lauren Randaccio notched the first goal of the second half off a pass from McMackin. McMackin set up the very next goal which was scored by Richard to make it 5-0 in the 70th minute. Then it was McMackin's turn to score, following an assist by Richard. Two minutes and 10 seconds later, first-year Jocelyn MItiguy logged her first collegiate goal with Richard once again earning the assist. In the 76th minute, Sara Kazerouni put Elmira on the scoreboard. Senior Brie Ruane closed out the scoring with William Smith's final goal. She one-timed a cross from Olick-Sutphen for the final score.
 
Sophomore Kaileen Murray started the game for the Herons and stopped the lone shot she faced in the first half. First-year Alessandra Bryan came in for the second half. Amanda Banner played all 90 minutes in goal for the Soaring Eagles and made nine saves.
 
The Herons finished with a 29-2 advantage in shots and a 4-0 advantage in corners. This afternoon's win was the most lopsided win to start a season in program history. The previous mark stood at 5-0. It was done twice, most recently in 1996 when the Herons topped Castleton by that score.
 
The Herons will be back in action this weekend on Cozzens Field. William Smith will host No. 20 Puget Sound on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 11 a.m., and then take on Denison on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 2 p.m.