The nationally-ranked William Smith College lacrosse team begins a three-game homestand to conclude the regular season with a pair of games this weekend, April 22-23. The Herons will host Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Friday, April 22 at 4 p.m and Union College at 3 p.m. Saturday.
 
Fans who cannot make the trip to Urick Stadium this weekend can follow both games with HWS All-Access and live stats. Both games will be broadcast on WHWS-FM (105.7 in Geneva).
 
William Smith, which is eighth in the IL Women/IWLCA Poll and fourth in the USA Lacrosse Magazine poll, is 12-1 this season and has won its last eight games. The Herons are 7-0 in the Liberty League and are first in the conference standings. William Smith enters the weekend averaging 16.08 goals per game while allowing a mere 7.23. The Herons are ninth in the nation in winning percentage, 17th in turnovers per game (14.00), 18th in scoring defense, 19th in scoring margin (+8.85), 20th in assists per game (7.85) and 22nd in points per game (23.92).
 
William Smith has clinched one of the league's six tournament spots. The Herons control their own destiny in their quest for an eighth regular season title.
 
The Herons are led offensively by Allie McGinty's 39 assists and 65 points. She leads the Liberty League and is 15th in the nation in assists and is 17th in the country in assists per game (3.00). McGinty is second in the conference averaging five points per game. Maddie Montgomery leads the team with 46 goals and is second on the team with 53 points. She is second in the conference, averaging 3.54 goals per game. Montgomery and Molly Davis each have 66 draw controls. Payton McMahon has a team-high 22 caused turnovers and Kate Risley has a team-best 32 ground balls.
 
Maura Smeader has played the majority of the minutes in goal. In 13 starts, she is 12-1 with a 7.16 goals against average and a .462 save percentage. Smeader leads the Liberty League and is 14th in the nation in GAA.
 
The Engineers are 9-3 overall with a 5-2 mark in Liberty League play. RPI is currently fourth in the conference standings and is looking to bounce back from a 17-3 loss to St. Lawrence last Saturday. The Engineers are receiving votes in this week's IL Women/IWLCA poll. Megan Shay leads the team in points 36 goals and 43 points. Three players share the team lead with 10 assists. Rylie Maready leads the team with 85 draw controls and 15 ground balls. Shay has 14 caused turnovers. Olivia Kimball and Jenny Canfield have split time in goal. Kimball is 7-1 with an 8.27 GAA and .526 save percentage. Canfield is 1-2 with a 12.22 GAA and a .423 save percentage.
 
Friday's game will be the 28th meeting between William Smith and RPI, but the first since 2019. The Herons hold a 22-5 advantage against the Engineers, including a 13-1 record on Boswell Field. William Smith has won six straight meetings between the two teams.
 
The Dutchwomen enter the weekend with a 4-7 overall record and a 3-3 mark in conference play. Union will be at RIT on Friday.  The Dutchwomen are sixth in the conference standings. Grace Heiting leads the team in nearly every statistical category. She has 33 goals, 14 assists and 47 points to go along with 20 ground balls, 23 caused turnovers and 39 draw controls. Jenna Paszek has played more minutes in goal. She is 2-3 with a 14:85 GAA and a .392 save percentage.
 
This will be the 33rd meeting between William Smith and Union. The Herons lead the all-time series 22-10, winning each of the past five meetings. The Herons are 12-2 against the Dutchwomen on Boswell Field, including last year's 19-4 win by William Smith in the Liberty League semifinals.