ITHACA, N.Y. — The 14th ranked William Smith College lacrosse team was defeated by 10th-ranked Ithaca 13-7 in a Liberty League contest at Higgins Stadium this afternoon. With the loss the Herons are now 2-2 overall this season with a 2-1 record in conference play.
 
Junior Payton McMahon led the way for William Smith netting her first hat trick of the season. Sophomore Maddie Montgomery added a pair of goals in the loss. Senior Mekayla Montgomery brought in a game-high five ground balls and had a team-high two caused turnovers. Three players won two draws for the Herons.  First-years Maddie Bamberger and Kristen McCormick each played 30 minutes in goal. Bamberger made six saves in the first half and McCormick stopped five shots in the second half in her collegiate debut.
 
Ithaca (5-0, 3-0) was led offensively by Alex Rabb, who logged five points on three goals and two assists. Jacqui Hallack also netted a hat trick for the Bombers. Caroline Grant had a strong day in the circle winning a game-high five draws. Rachel Rosenberg pitched in three caused turnovers. Mackenzie Schade stared in goal and made three saves. Kayla Howley came on in the second half and made four saves.
 
McMahon opened the scoring 87 seconds into the game with her fifth goal of the season. She dodged around a defender and fired a shot past Schade. Ithaca took control of the game with a six-goal run. Rabb notched three points on a goal and an assist in the 13-minute stretch of play. Hallack scored twice while Megan Motkowski, Indira Varma and Madison Boutureira also scored. McMahon ended the Ithaca run with her sixth goal of the season with 10:59 remaining in the half. Just over a minute later, Maddie Montgomery added her sixth goal of the season. The Bombers rattled off a 3-0 run to extend their lead to 9-3. Rabb scored two of the three goals. Montgomery's seventh goal of the season rounded out the scoring in the first half.
 
Just over two minutes into the second half, Hallack notched her 23rd goal of the season to give Ithaca a six goal lead. Sixteen seconds later, McMahon completed her hat trick on a free position goal.  Grant put the game out of reach with a pair of goals before the six minute mark of the half. First-years Chloe McGlynn and Allie McGinty rounded out William Smith's scoring with 11:49 remaining in regulation. Alex Ritchie added a late insurance goal for Ithaca.
 
The Bombers finished the game with a 33-18 edge in shots and a 13-9 advantage in draw controls. Both teams had 18 ground balls. William Smith was 23-for-28 on clear attempts and Ithaca was 21-for-22.
 
The Herons and Bombers will wrap up the weekend series tomorrow afternoon. Opening draw at Boswell Field is scheduled for 2 p.m.