The 20th-ranked William Smith College field hockey team will begin its 2017 season on Friday, Sept. 1, when it travels to Madison, N.J., to participate in the 2017 Drew Fall Festival. The Herons will face the host Rangers on Friday at 7 p.m. before taking on Cabrini on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
 
Head Coach Sally Scatton returns to the sidelines for her 30th season as head coach of the Herons. She has compiled a record of 446-143-3 in her time at William Smith. Scatton will oversee a squad that returns 15 players, including three starters from last year's team.
 
William Smith is coming off a 12-6 campaign in 2016. The Herons posted a 5-1 record in Liberty League play, claiming their second consecutive Liberty League regular season title. William Smith fell to then No. 15 Rochester in the conference tournament.
 
"After graduating 10 seniors, we will have a different look to this year's team," Scatton said. "We will turn to our returning players and strong first-year class to fill the void they left and plan to build on last year's success."
 
The Herons' forward line will be anchored by first team All-American, senior Hannah Wood. The 2017 Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year finished her junior year with a team-leading 23 goals, and 51 points.  She led the Liberty League in goals, goals per game (1.28), points, and points per game (2.83). Wood enters her final season with 74 career goals and 165 career points. She sits second on the William Smith all-time list in both categories. Wood needs 16 goals and 52 points to surpass the standards set by Assistant Coach Sophie Riskie '07 on both lists. She ended 2016 first among active players in Division III in goals per game (1.28), and second in points per game (2.84).  She was third in goals and points.
 
Juniors Fallon Adair and Sierramarie Fitzgerald will pair with Wood on the front line. Adair started two of the 17 games she played in last season and finished the year with a career-high 14 points (5g, 4a), good for fifth on the team. Through 38 games, she has 10 goals and seven assists for 37 points. Fitzgerald played in all 18 games, starting three in her first season at William Smith. A transfer from the University of Scranton she tallied eight points on three goals and two assists a season ago.  Sophomore Elizabeth Carlson, who played in seven games and scored her first collegiate goal against Union last season, and first-years Katherine Vangaever and Maggie Krupinsky will add depth to the forward line.
 
Three-time first team All-Liberty League selection, senior Alexandra Frary, returns to lead William Smith's midfield unit. She started all 18 games for the Herons in 2016, logging six goals, six assists, and 18 points. A 2015 second team All-American, Frary has started 57 of the 58 games she has played in during her career. She has compiled 15 goals, 16 assists, and 47 points.  As a standout center midfielder, she controls the Heron midfield defense and plays a pivotal role in William Smith's offensive transition.
 
Joining Frary in the midfield will be senior Leigh Blackiston, juniors Katie Battaglia and Caroline Mackin, and sophomore Kelsey Pierce. A senior academically, Battaglia returns to the team after spending last fall in the study abroad program in Rome Italy. She has played in 17 career games. Blackiston saw action in four games last year. In 22 career games, she has one goal. Mackin played in 12 games last year. Pierce played in six games in her rookie season. Versatile first-year Shayla Meehan will see playing time at both midfield and forward.
 
William Smith's back line will take on a completely new look this season after graduating four of its five starters. Second team All-Liberty League selection Maura Moran will move from the midfield to defense this year. She led the team with 11 assists and was second with 13 goals and 37 points. Moran posted a career-high six points (2g, 2a) in a 5-1 win over RPI last year. She was also a perfect 4-for-4 on penalty strokes. A starter in 55 of the 58 games she has played, Moran has compiled 23 goals and 24 assists for 70 points.
 
Looking to step up and win playing time on the back line will be juniors Katherine Klecha and Samantha Petruzzo and sophomores Olivia Bennett and Bennett Tierney. A transfer from Division I James Madison, Klecha saw action in 11 games, starting one, in her first season as a Heron. Petruzzo has seen time in 21 games, earning one start, in two years.  Bennett and Tierney look to take on larger roles in the defense after playing in eight and seven games, respectively, in their rookie season.  First-years Colby Poerio, Lauren Hagerty, and Hannah Farrar will add depth to the defensive rotation.
 
In goal, Emily King returns for her senior season. In 13 career games she is 2-0 with a 1.17 goals against average and a .750 save percentage. First-year Alexandra DeVito is also a qualified choice to see time in the Heron goal.
 
William Smith also welcomes a new face to the bench this season. Ami Cammarota '00 returns to her alma matter as an assistant coach. She was a two time All-American in the midfield for the Herons.
 
Scatton said that the team is excited to begin the season with a pair of new opponents and is looking forward to the challenges that await this season.
 
William Smith is 2-1 against Drew since 1987 with all three games coming on a neutral site. Saturday will be the Herons' first match up against Cabrini. The Cavaliers are coming off a Colonial States Athletic Conference Championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament in 2016.
 
The Herons begin an eight-game homestand on Wednesday, Sept. 6, when they host Geneseo on McCooey Field. William Smith takes on its first nationally ranked opponent on Sept. 9, when preseason No. 7 Ursinus comes to Geneva. The Herons open up their conference slate against No. 14 Rochester at home on Sept. 23. William Smith closes out conference play on Oct. 22 against 11th-ranked Skidmore and will conclude the regular season against defending national champions and preseason No. 1 Messiah.