GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith College senior Alexandra Bird's three goals led the Heron lacrosse team to a season-opening 7-5 victory over Geneseo on Boswell Field this afternoon.
 
The Knights fall to 1-1 on the season. Senior Allie Flaherty and sophomore Bizzer Gahagan each added two goals for William Smith. Gahagan also won a game-high three draws. Senior goalie Sarah Honan made eight saves, including one on a Geneseo free position attempt late in the second half. She added a game-high six ground balls. Junior Kelsi Carr recorded three ground balls, two caused turnovers and two draws.
 
Geneseo had five different goal scorers. Kathleen DePillo scored a goal and picked up three ground balls. Erin Cregan had a goal, an assist and three ground balls. Tess McFadden five saves for the Knights.
 
Just 2:17 into the game, Gahagan put the Herons on the board after a feed from junior Melissa Moore. Carly Cullen tied things up for Geneseo just over eight minutes later with a free position tally. With 16:44 to go in the first, Flaherty put William Smith back on top. Cregan tied things up for the Knights with 8:21 on the clock and Hannah Millich gave the Knights their first lead of the game after a pass from Cregan with 5:20 left in the first. Bird notched her first goal of the game 3:56 before the break to tie the game up at 3-3. Carr passed to Bird from behind the goal, and Bird sent a one-timer into the back of the net.
 
Bird opened the second half with her second goal of the game 2:16 in. Lauren Corbett answered for Geneseo, tying the game for the fourth time. With 21:12 left in the game, DePillo gave the Knights a 5-4 lead. However, the Herons closed out the game putting together a three-goal run for the win. Gahagan notched her second of the day with 14:15 on the clock to tie things up at 5-5. Flahery scored the go-ahead goal with 13:09 to go, and Bird added the insurance goal, a free position tally, to complete her hat trick with 7:06 remaining.
 
The Herons finished with a 19-14 lead in shots and a 19-18 edge in ground balls. William Smith was successful on 15-of-20 clear attempts, and the Knights went 16-for-17.

The Herons will be back in action on Wednesday, March 8, when they travel to take on Hamilton in a non-league game at 4 p.m.