The third-ranked William Smith College lacrosse team heads to the Capital District this weekend, April 21-22, for two Liberty League showdowns. On Friday, the Herons take on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at 4 p.m. Saturday, The next day, William Smith will face Union College. The opening draw is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
The Herons are 13-0 so far this season with a 7-0 record in Liberty League play. Last Saturday, the Herons defeated the Raptors of Bard College 24-2. Hannah Evans led the team with five goals. Fourteen other Herons also scored in the victory. Madison Dicks made her first collegiate start in goal and earned her first collegiate victory.
 
The Engineers are 9-3 overall, and 4-3 in conference play. This past weekend, RPI fell to St. Lawrence 13-12 in overtime. Quinn Wollard and Lauren DeLeo had three goals apiece.
 
Union is 8-3 overall and 4-2 in Liberty League play. The Dutchwomen have won two straight, including a 16-14 win over Vassar last Saturday. Sydney McPartlon netted four goals.
 
Fans who can't make the trip to the Capital District can follow the action online. Friday's game will be on rpiathletics.com and Saturday's game will covered by unionathletics.com. Both games will also be broadcast on WHWS-FM (105.7 in Geneva).
 
ABOUT THE HERONS

• William Smith is led by senior Maddie Montgomery who leads the Liberty League with 47 goals and 60 points.
• Allie McGinty leads the Herons with 22 assists. She is second with 38 points.
• Sophomore Maura Smeader plays the majority of the minutes in goal for the Herons. She is 12-0 with a GAA of 7.11 and a save percentage of .512. Smeader is 12th in the nation in GAA and 30th in save percentage.

 
NATIONAL NUMBERS

• William Smith enters the weekend ranked first in the nation in winning percentage and is one of three remaining unbeaten teams along with Middlebury and Kenyon. The Herons are also first in the nation in turnovers per game (10.92).
• William Smith is sixth in shots on goal per game (28.00), 10th in scoring margin (+9.62), 12th in clearing percentage (.890), 14th in scoring defense (6.77) and 16th in scoring offense (16.38).

 
ABOUT THE ENGINEERS

• RPI is led offensively by Rylie Maready who has 47 points on 27 goals and 20 assists. Maready also has a team-high 117 draw controls.
• Megan Shay leads the Engineers, with 43 goals. Ella Graff has a team-leading 23 assists.
• Jenny Canfield and Olivia Kimball split time in goal for RPI. Canfield is 4-1 with a GAA of 9.35 and a save percentage of .463. Kimball is 4-1 with a GAA of 10.00 and a .478 save percentage. 

 
SERIES HISTORY

• Friday will be the 29th meeting between the Herons and the Engineers. 
• The Herons lead the all-time series 23-5, including a 9-4 record in Troy.
• Last season, the Herons defeated the Engineers 15-2. Montgomery had five goals to lead the way for the Herons. Katherine Murray added four goals.

 
ABOUT THE DUTCHWOMEN

• Union will host RIT on Friday.
• McPartlon leads Union with 33 goals and 38 points.
• Playmaker Katie Julien has a team-high 12 assists.
• Sydney Widlitz played a majority of the minutes in goal for the Dutchwomen. She has a GAA of 8.42, and a save percentage of .532.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• Saturday will be the 35th meeting between the Herons and the Dutchwomen. 
• William Smith leads the all-time series 24-10, including a record of 8-5 in Schenectady.
• Last season, the Herons defeated the Dutchwomen 18-9. Anna Murphy '22 had seven goals.