The William Smith College lacrosse team opens the 2018 season on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Geneseo with a non-league game set for 3 p.m.
 
Head Coach Anne Phillips begins her third year at the helm of the William Smith lacrosse program. The Herons are ranked fifth in the nation in the first IWLCA poll of the season. Her Herons are two-time defending Liberty League regular season and tournament champions. William Smith posted a program record 20 wins last spring and advanced to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals for the first time since 2003.
 
William Smith lost six players to graduation last spring. The Class of 2017 included two IWLCA first team All-Americans, the IWLCA Goalkeeper of the Year, three all-region selections, the Liberty League Player of the Year, the Liberty League Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and four All-Liberty League first team honorees.
 
The Herons return 14 players from last year's roster, including three of its top five scorers. Phillips welcomes 14 new faces to her team.
 
"Our biggest challenge will be dealing with our lack of experience in a year that brings major changes to the game of women's lacrosse," said Phillips. "This year's changes - the speed of play and the possession clock - are the biggest in the history of the game. We're working to develop our players technically and tactically in a game that's very different than anyone in the sport has ever played before."
 
ATTACK
 
The Herons have been putting in the work this preseason to build an up tempo offense with quickness in both on and off ball movement. Seniors Bailey Ebby and Sarah Benyo as well as juniors Bizzer Gahagan and Maddie Schmitt are back on attack. Sophomores Nicki Santora, Rachel Slagle and Katie Consoli look to build on their rookie seasons and first-years Delia Lawver, Ellie Burns, Ellie Nowak, Shayla Meehan and transfer Mekayla Montgomery from Gettysburg will make up the Herons' offensive unit.
 
Benyo saw time in 18 games, starting 13 last spring, while Ebby, who has battled injury in her career, played in 12 games. Gahagan led William Smith with 48 draws last year. She contributed 24 goals and eight assists for 32 points. Schmitt posted three goals and an assist for four points in seven games. Santora notched 20 points on 13 goals and seven assists in 14 contests. She also grabbed 19 ground balls and caused eight turnovers.
 
MIDFIELD
 
Phillips' goal for the midfield is to be able to dominate the draw and push for the fast break. The Herons return the most experience at midfield with seniors Ali Burns, Melissa Moore and Kelsi Carr bringing leadership at the position. The seniors will be joined by four first-years - Kelsey Williams, Rachel Yackel, Anna Murphy and Sadie Mapstone.
 
An All-Region and all-league first team selection, Moore shared a team-high with 16 assists and ranked second on the team with 47 goals and 63 points in 2017. She also led William Smith with 55 ground balls and 34 caused turnovers. Moore also won 35 draws last spring.  Carr ranked second on the team with 30 caused turnovers. She added 40 ground balls, 11 draws, 18 goals and 13 assists for 31 points. Burns, an All-Liberty League second team honoree, was fourth on the team with 40 points on 35 goals and five assists. She scooped up 18 ground balls, won six draws and caused 11 turnovers.
 
DEFENSE
 
The Herons will run a high pressure defense that is pushing to create caused turnovers. Senior Cat Wolf brings the experience on defense. Sophomore Rachael Piercey also returns. Junior Laura Rollins, an all-league first team and all-region second team selection, has been sidelined by injury, but four first-years – Olivia Zapatka, Fair Smith, Ellen Arena and Susan Kowalski – will bring depth for the Herons.
 
Wolf started every game last spring, playing a key role in the Heron defense that posted a 4.78 goals against average which ranks second on the William Smith single season list. Wolf picked up 18 ground balls, caused 10 turnovers and won four draws. Piercey played in 13 games. She scored a goal and recorded five ground balls, four caused turnovers and won a draw.
 
 
GOALIES
 
"It is going to be very difficult to replace last year's Goalie of the Year, but we have three keepers who are vying for the starting position," said Phillips. "Each of the goalies on our roster brings her own unique strengths."
 
Sophomore Sarah Babcock is back for the Herons after playing limited minutes last year, backing up Sarah Honan '17, an IWLCA first team All-American and the Goalie of the Year. First-years Olivia Hofmann and Jules Kennedy will also be battling for playing time.
 
 
SCHEDULE
 
The Herons have scheduled very difficult non-conference opponents this year. William Smith will take on four teams ranked in the top 12 in the nation in the IWLCA preseason poll before going into the heart of its Liberty League schedule.
 
After taking on Geneseo and Fredonia on the road to start the season, the Herons play their home opener against No. 12 Hamilton on March 7. William Smith takes on No. 10 Colby at Hamilton on March 11 and faces No. 9 Salisbury at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., on March 19. William Smith will play its first league game at Bard on March 16. This year, Ithaca joins the Liberty League. The Herons face the No. 11 Bombers in conference action on April 11 in Ithaca.