LEXINGTON, Va.—The William Smith College lacrosse team advanced to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals with an 18-13 victory over Colorado College on Washington & Lee's Watt Field today. The Herons extended their win streak to 17 games, a program record and the longest current win streak in the nation.
 
It's the Herons' first quarterfinal appearance since the 2003 team made the NCAA national semifinals, and it's William Smith lacrosse's 16th overall quarterfinal appearance. The Herons improved to 20-1 this season. It's the first 20 win season in William Smith lacrosse history. The 2017 Herons also have a program record for caused turnovers in a season with 243 this year.
 
The Herons will face Washington & Lee on Watt Field tomorrow, Sunday, May 21 at 2 p.m. The Generals topped Catholic 9-6 in their third round game.
 
The Herons' 18 goals were the most they have scored this season, and the most in a game since William Smith notched 19 goals in a 19-5 win over Greensboro on March 18, 2016. Three Herons notched a team-high five points. Senior Allie Flaherty, senior Alexandra Bird and junior Melissa Moore each chipped in four goals and an assist. First-year Nicki Santora added her second career hat trick. Santora and Flaherty each notched a game-high six ground balls. Flaherty's two caused turnovers today moved her up to tied for fifth on the Heron career list (79).
 
Moore shared a game-high with three caused turnovers and added four ground balls and two draws. She is now sixth on the Heron list for caused turnovers in a season with 33. Senior Jackie Rogers won a team-high three draws, caused two turnovers and had a ground ball. She moved up to eighth on the Heron career caused turnovers list with 69. Senior goalie Sarah Honan made 10 saves, picked up three ground balls and caused two turnovers.
 
Colorado College finished its season with a 15-5 overall record. The Tigers' 13 goals were the most allowed by the Herons since Cortland notched 14 in the Red Dragons' 14-6 win over William Smith on March 28, 2016. Steph Kelly logged a game-high seven points on two goals and five assists for Colorado College. She dominated the draw circle, winning a game-high seven. Eva King, Annie DeFrino and Mary Taussig each registered four points. Sadie Cole chipped in three points on two goals and an assist. Cole Vanacore had a team-high three ground balls. Taussig and Ellie Meyer shared a game-high with three caused turnovers. Remy Wells stopped 14 shots in goal for the Tigers.
 
The Herons scored the first four goals of the game in the opening 5:40. At 2:04 in, Flaherty opened the scoring. She fired home a shot from right in front after a pass from behind the goal on by sophomore Bizzer Gahagan. Just 24 seconds later, a fast break tally from Bird made it 2-0. With 24:31 on the clock, Moore drilled a shot into the top left corner for a woman-up goal. Just 11 seconds later, Flaherty won a draw, carried the ball into the offensive zone, and dished to Santora on her right who netted her first of the day.
 
Sarah Honan denied a free position chance for the Tigers with 22:48 left in the first, but Colorado College responded with the next five goals to take a 5-4 lead with 17:05 left in the first. Back-to-back goals from DeFrino both off assists from Kelly, and then back-to-back tallies from Sadie Cole knotted the game at 4-4. Cole's first goal was set up by King and her second was off Kelly's third assist of the afternoon. DeFrino struck again, capitalizing on a Heron turnover deep in their defensive zone to give the Tigers what proved to be their only lead of the game with 17:05 remaining in the first.
 
William Smith answered with free position goals from Burns and Moore, giving the Herons a 6-5 advantage. Kelly found the back of the net for the Tigers after a feed from King to tie the game up at 6-6 with 8:26 left in the first. William Smith closed out the opening half with two more goals to build an 8-6 lead at the break. Santora scored on a free position attempt, and Flaherty beat her defender and fired her shot just over the goalkeeper's shoulder with 1:41 remaining.
 
Colorado College opened the second half scoring, tallying the first two goals. Taussig struck first 2:33 in and 13 seconds later, Nikki Blair added a fast break goal to knot the game at 8-8. Flaherty cut through traffic to notch her 45th goal of the season with 26 minutes left in the game to take back the lead for William Smith. However, King scored back door after a pass from Kelly to tie things up at 9-9. This time Moore and Flaherty put together two goals to put the Herons up 11-9 with 21:47 remaining. Once again, the Tigers responded. Taussig and Kelly chipped in back-to-back unassisted goals to tie the game up for the sixth time at 11-11.
 
William Smith then took control of the game, putting together a five goal run over the next 12:23 and building a 16-11 lead. Moore started the run, followed by three straight goals by Bird. Carr closed out the spurt with her 18th of the season off an assist from junior Ella Calder. With 4:25 to go, Taussig found the back of the net for the Tigers, but the Herons answered with goals from Santora and Calder. King logged the final goal of the game for Colorado College with 1:38 remaining.
 
William Smith finished with a 45-26 lead in shots and a 27-16 advantage in ground balls. The Tigers had a 21-10 advantage in draws. The Herons were successful on 16-of-21 clear attempts, while Colorado College went 11-for-22.