GENEVA, N.Y.-The No. 18 William Smith College lacrosse team defeated Bard 19-4 in a Liberty League contest on Boswell Field at David J Urick Stadium this afternoon. The Herons are now 3-2 overall and 2-0 in Liberty League play this season.
 
Sophomore Ellie Burns finished with a career-high five goals. It was her fourth hat trick in the first five games of the season. Fellow sophomores Sadie Mapstone (1g, 3a) and Anna Murphy (2g, 2a) each had four points in the win. Junior Nicki Santora added a hat trick. Santora, junior Rachel Slagle and sophomore Ellen Arena scooped up a game-high four ground balls each. First-year Payton McMahon won a game-high six draws. Sophomores Jules Kennedy and Olivia Hofmann each played 30 minutes in goal. Kennedy had three saves in the first half and Hofmann made one save in the second half.
 
Caleigh DeCaprio had a goal and assist for the Raptors (3-2, 0-1). Nicole Ellin scooped up a team-high four ground balls and Casey Witte won three draws. Izabel Kickner made 10 saves in goal for Bard.
 
William Smith opened the game with a five goal run. Burns notched the first two goals. She scored her first goal just past the three minute mark on an assist from McMahon. One minute later, Burns struck again off a feed from Mapstone.  Rachel Yackel and Mapstone scored free position goals to extend the lead to 4-0. It was the fifth goal of the season for both Yackel and Mapstone. Murphy closed out the run with her third goal of the season. Melissa Rosenthal scored Bard's first goal of the game.
 
The Herons ended the half on a five goal run. Burns completed her hat trick just past the half way point on a feed from Slagle. Sophomore Delia Lawver made it 7-1 with her third goal of the season. Burns' fourth goal of the game and 15th of the season came with 8:35 remaining in the half. Mapstone picked up an assist on the goal. Santora's fourth goal of the game came with 2:41 remaining in the half. First-year Lily Madden closed out the first half with her first collegiate goal with 1:44 remaining in the half.
 
Sophomore Mekayla Montgomery opened the second half with her fifth goal of the season. The man-up goal was assisted by Mapstone.  Bard scored three goals in two minutes the second half. DeCaprio, Witte and Dylan McDonald scored for Bard.
 
McMahon's fifth goal of the season started an eight goal run for William Smith to close out the game. Slagle and Murphy scored their fourth goals of the season 23 seconds apart to extend the lead to 14-4. Elli Burns tacked on a fifth goal with 14:31 remaining in the second half. Her 16th goal of the season was assisted by Murphy. Santora scored twice and Slagle and Lawver each scored once to close out the game.
 
William Smith dominated the stat sheet finishing with a 38-9 edge in shots and a 28-19 advantage in ground balls. The Herons were 15-of-17 on clear attempts and the Raptors were 11-of-28. 
 
William Smith will be back in action on Tuesday, March 19, when it travels to Cabrini for a non-conference contest. Opening draw in Randor, Pa. is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.