GENEVA, N.Y.—The No. 17 William Smith College lacrosse team clinched the No. 1 seed in the Liberty League Tournament for the third year in a row with a 15-4 victory over Skidmore today on Boswell Field.
 
The Herons earned at least a share of the conference regular season title with the win and improve to 12-4 overall and finished their conference schedule with a 9-1 record. William Smith will host the Liberty League Tournament semifinals and championship on Boswell Field on May 5 and 6.
 
First-year Sadie Mapsone led the Herons with a season-high five points on three goals and two assists. Senior Melissa Moore dished out four assists, shared a game-high with five ground balls and notched a game-high five caused turnovers. The five caused turnovers are tied for third on the Heron single game list. First-year Anna Murphy posted her first hat trick of her Heron career. Senior Ali Burns and sophomore Bizzer Gahagan added two goals apiece. Senior Kelsi Carr produced two goals and an assist. First-year Ellie Burns registered a goal and an assist. Sophomore Rachael Piercey also scooped up five ground balls, and first-year Mekayla Montgomery picked up four ground balls. First-year Jules Kennedy played the opening 57:29 and made three saves. First-year Olivia Hofmann came in for the final 2:31.
 
Skidmore falls to 11-6 overall and 7-3 in conference play. Marisa Caponi led the way with two goals and Natalie LaBeau had two assists and a team-high four ground balls. Zoe Rafalowski-Houseman notched three caused turnovers. Caroline Kenlon played all 60 minutes in goal and made 12 saves.
 
Senior Sarah Benyo opened the scoring with her 26th goal this year 5:24 into the game. The Thoroughbreds put together back-to-back goals from Caponi and Lilla Seymour to take a 2-1 lead 6:42 into the contest, but it was the only time Skidmore would be on top. The Herons scored the next nine goals to take control of the game. Murphy opened the run with back-to-back goals. Mapstone scored off a feed from Moore and Carr found the back of the net, followed by another goal by Mapstone, this time with Carr setting up the play. Gahagan scored with one second left in the opening half to give the Herons an 8-2 advantage at halftime.
 
Ali Burns and Eli Burns started the second half scoring to make it 10-2. Anna Boogaerts logged a free position goal for Skidmore with 17:11 left. Carr tallied her second of the day and sixth of the season off a feed from Ellie Burns, and senior Bailey Ebby scored her fourth goal of the spring with 13:23 on the clock. LaBeau set up a Caponi goal for the Thoroughbreds with 12:37 remaining. Goals from Murphy, Ali Burns and Mapstone closed out the scoring for William Smith. Moore set up the final two goals of the game. It was Mapstone's second hat trick this year.
 
The Herons finished with a 32-11 advantage in shots and a 23-14 lead in ground balls. Each team won 10 draws. Skidmore was successful on 7-of-21 clear attempts, while William Smith finished 14-for-16.
 
As the No. 1 seed, the Herons earn a bye to the Liberty League Tournament semifinals which will be played on Boswell Field on Saturday, May 5.