GENEVA, N.Y.-The William Smith College lacrosse team used a strong defensive effort to defeat Clarkson 8-1 on a rainy afternoon on Boswell Field at David J Urick Stadium.  With the win, the Herons are now 9-2 overall and 5-0 in the Liberty League this season.
 
The one goal allowed today is the fewest William Smith has allowed in a game since March 16, 2018, an 18-0 win over Bard. It was also the fewest goals that the Herons had allowed in the 19 meetings with the Golden Knights, the previous was 2 in a 22-2 win on March 31, 2001. The nine combined goals in the game were the fewest combined goals in the series, the previous low was 10 on April 8, 2016.
 
Sophomore Ellie Burns finished with a game-high three points on a pair of goals and an assist. Senior Bizzer Gahagan and sophomore Rachel Yackel each scored twice in the win. Burns scooped up a game-high six ground balls. Sophomore Mekayla Montgomery won a game-high five draws. With the five wins, she now has won 124 for her career, which moves her into a tie with Torie Allen '09 for second place on William Smith's career list. Sophomore Olivia Hofmann started in goal and made four saves.
 
Aubrey Borgesi scored for the Golden Knights (5-5, 2-2). Stephanie Scala finished with a team-high four ground balls. Six different players won draws for Clarkson. Samantha Gladd made 12 saves in goal for the Golden Knights.
 
Burns opened the scoring with her team leading 30th goal of the season. She bounced home a free position shot with 15:44 remaining in the first half. Sophomore Anna Murphy doubled the Herons lead with a free position goal of her own.  She fired a shot from left of center into the upper corner of the goal. It was her 13th goal of the season. Junior Nicki Santora scored a woman-up goal with 6:43 remaining in the half to give William Smith a 3-0 lead. Fellow junior Rachel Slagle was credited with an assist on the goal. It was Santora's 14th goal of the season. Yackel closed out the half with her 15th goal of the season. She collected a pass from Murphy and bounced a shot past Gladd.
 
Clarkson broke up the shutout bid just past the five minute mark of the second half. Borgesi fired a shot that Hofmann appeared to stop but the rebound trickled over the goal line. Gahagan's first goal of the game came with 17:25 remaining in regulation. She beat her defender and fired a shot past Gladd for her 10th goal of the season. Just over one minute later, Yackel's second goal of the game gave William Smith a 6-1 lead. She one-timed a pass from Santora into the back of the net. It was Yackel's 16th goal of the season. Burns collected her 31st goal of the season with 7:17 remaining in regulation. Slagle was credited with an assist on the goal. Two minutes later, Gahagan added her 11th goal of the season to round out the scoring. Burns was credited with an assist.
 
William Smith finished the game with a 29-4 edge in shots on goal and a 20-12 edge in ground balls.  The Herons were 18-of-22 clearing the ball and Clarkson was 16-of-23.
 
William Smith will be back in action tomorrow when they welcome St. Lawrence to Boswell Field. Clarkson will travel to Ithaca tomorrow. Opening draw in both games is scheduled for 2 p.m.