GENEVA, N.Y.—The No. 13 William Smith College lacrosse team jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first half and went on to defeat Nazareth College 11-3 in a non-league game played on Boswell Field this afternoon.
 
The Herons improved to 2-1 this season, while the Golden Flyers fall to 2-2.
 
Senior Sarah Benyo led William Smith with five points on three goals and two assists. First-year Ellie Burns added three goals and an assist. Senior Melissa Moore picked up a game-high six ground balls and first-year Ellen Arena picked up five ground balls. Sophomore Mekayla Montgomery caused a game-high four caused turnovers and had four ground balls. Senior Ali Burns, Moore and junior Bizzer Gahagan chipped in a goal and an assist and senior Kesli Carr logged two assists. First-year Kelsey Williams won a team-high three draws. First-year Olivia Hofmann made six saves in goal for the Herons.
 
Jamie Martin, Haley DeVona and Addilys Geitner each scored for Nazareth. DeVona won a team-high three draws. Kyra Kempney had two caused turnovers and three ground balls. Brianna Rizzari made 18 saves in goal for the Golden Flyers. She also scooped up three ground balls and caused a turnover.
 
The Herons scored the first four goals of the game. Burns opened the scoring with her third of the year off a pass from Moore 7:04 in. First-year Sadie Mapstone followed with her first collegiate goal off a feed from Benyo. With 16:36 on the clock, Benyo notched her first of the day. Ali Burns earned the assist. Moore made it 4-0 just over a minute later. With 14:28 left in the first DeVona put the Golden Flyers on the scoreboard. Kelly Byrne logged the assist. After causing a turnover and collecting the ground ball, Gahagan scored her fourth goal of the season, and Ellie Burns registered her first collegiate goal after a quick pass from Carr on the right side to close out the first half scoring.
 
Williams produced her fifth goal of the season for the Herons to open the second half. Gahagan was credited with the assist. Geitner scored on a free position for Nazareth to make it 7-2. Back-to-back goals by Benyo gave the Herons a 9-2 advantage with 11:25 to go. With 9:20 left, Martin took advantage of a free position to get the Golden Flyers' third goal. Back-to-back goals from Ellie Burns completed her first career hat trick for the final score.
 
The Herons finished with a 40-16 advantage in shots and a 41-19 lead in ground balls. William Smith had a 9-8 edge at the draw circle. The Herons were successful on 16-of-24 clear attempts, while Nazareth finished 12-of-26 clear attempts.
 
William Smith is back in action tomorrow, March 11. The Heron play a non-league game against No. 14 Colby at 2 p.m. at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y.