GENEVA, N.Y. — The 19th-ranked William Smith College lacrosse team had nine different players score a goal as it rolled to a 19-4 win over Union in a Liberty League semifinal contest on Boswell Field at David J Urick Stadium this afternoon. With the win, the Herons earned their fifth straight appearance in the Liberty League championship game.
 
William Smith is now 7-4 and will take on Ithaca in the title game. The Bombers defeated St. Lawrence 20-8 in the other semifinal. The championship game will be held Saturday, May 1, at 1 p.m. in Ithaca.
 
Senior Kelsey Williams recorded a game-high six points on four goals and two assists. Junior Payton McMahon also recorded a hat trick for William Smith, and five players had two goals. In total, 11 Herons found their way onto the score sheet. Sophomore Maddie Montgomery had a game-high seven draw controls. Senior Ellen Arena had a game-high four caused turnovers and brought in five ground balls.  First-year Maddie Bamberger started in goal and made five saves.
 
Union (4-5) had four different goal scorers. Lindsay Gerrato won a team-high four draws and was one of the Dutchwomen's goal scorers. Three Union players had two ground balls. Jenna Paszek played all 90 minutes in goal for the Dutchwomen and made 14 saves.
 
Despite a 30 minute weather delay, William Smith took control of the game from the opening whistle, jumping out to a 12-3 lead at halftime. Senior Ellie Burns opened the scoring just over a minute into the game. She collected a pass from Maddie Montgomery and fired a shot past Paszek. Union tied the game 80 seconds later on Isabel Bush's 20th goal of the season. Caroline Hirt was credited with an assist on the goal. The Herons rattled off the next five goals to seize momentum. Montgomery started the run with her 34th goal of the season. She beat two defenders and bounced a shot across the goal line. Five minutes later, first-year Chloe McGlynn notched her fifth goal of the season on a free position shot. With 18:46 remaining in the half, Williams notched her first goal of the game and eighth of the season. Payton McMahon and Ellie Burns scored less than a minute a part to close out the run. McMahon's 14th goal of the season came a woman-up and was a free position shot. All five goals were unassisted.
 
Courtney Cronin's goal with 12:14 left in the half interrupted William Smith's scoring outburst. Grace Heiting was credited with an assist on the tally. The Herons used another 5-0 run to put the game out of reach. Sophomore Molly Davis and Williams each scored twice during the run. Davis scored the first and fourth goals while Williams completed her hat trick with goals 32 seconds apart, sandwiched around a Union timeout. Senior Anna Murphy's goal with 6:15 left in half concluded the run. Dana Nelson pocked a free position goal for Union with 4:30 remaining. Sophomore Kaitlin Pellechia wrapped up the first half with her first goal of the season. Murphy was credited with the assist on the goal with 17 seconds remaining in the half.
 
William Smith made it a 10-goal game just over two minutes into the half. McMahon collected a pass from Williams and beat Paszek with a bounce shot. One minute later, Maddie Montgomery collected her second goal of the game and team-leading 35th goal of the season. With 23:25 left in regulation, senior Rachel Yackel converted on a woman-up opportunity for her sixth goal of the season. Murphy was credited with an assist. Williams' extended William Smith's run to five goals with her fourth strike of the game. Two minutes later, McMahon completed her hat trick with her 16th goal of the season. Yackel made it seven straight Heron goals with her second of the game. First-year Maddie Schleicher was credited with an assist on the turnaround strike. Just over a minute later, Gerrato scored for Union. Her 26th goal of the season came a woman-up. Pellechia wrapped up the scoring with her second goal of the game. The unassisted tally came with 2:30 left in regulation.
 
William Smith put together a total team effort on both ends of the field and dominated the stat sheet. The Herons finished the game with a 42-14 edge in shots, held a 24-9 advantage in ground balls and won the draw control battle 16-9. The 19 goals were the most scored by William Smith since a 19-4 win over Bard on March 16, 2019. The four goals allowed were the fewest the Herons have allowed this season.