GENEVA, N.Y.—The third-ranked William Smith College lacrosse team turned in a strong defensive performance as it defeated 25th-ranked Ithaca 14-4 in the Liberty League Championship Game on Boswell Field at David J Urick Stadium this afternoon. With the win, the Herons extended their win streak to 18 games, a program record.
 
It was William Smith's ninth Liberty League Tournament title in program history and seventh in a row. It was William Smith's fifth consecutive championship game against the Bombers. The Herons secured the Liberty League's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. William Smith will take on the winner of Rhodes-Merchant Marine on Sunday, May 14 at 1 p.m.


 
Junior Allie McGinty was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player for the second consecutive year. The Rumson, New Jersey, native had six points on two goals and four assists. First-year Natalie Daniels recorded a hat trick and won a game-high seven draw controls. Seniors Molly Davis, Maddie Montgomery, Payton McMahon and Kaitlin Pellechia added two goals each. First-year Anna Suter, junior Kate Risley and sophomore Katherine Murray had two caused turnovers each. Sophomore goalie Maura Smeader started in goal and made eight saves, including five in the second half as the Herons pulled away for the victory.
 
Ithaca (12-8) was led by Maizey Veitch, who had two goals. Caroline Wise and Lexi Kellish each won four draw controls. Lexi Held played all 60 minutes in goal for the Bombers and made 13 saves. She also had a game-high five ground balls.
 
KEY STATS

• William Smith finished the game with a 34-21 advantage in shots, a 25-17 edge in ground balls and won the battle in the draw circle 12-9.
• The Herons were 15-of-17 clearing the ball and Ithaca was 13-for-19 on its clearing attempts.
• The four goals in today's game were tied for the fewest goals scored by the Bombers this season.

 
STREAKING

• With today's win, William Smith extended its Boswell Field winning streak to 25 games.
• With points in today's games, McGinty and Montgomery extended their points streaks to 39 and 33 games, respectively.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• A defensive battle in the first half saw the Herons take a 4-2 lead after 30 minutes.
• After nearly nine minutes of scoreless play that saw both goalies make impressive saves, Wise opened the scoring for Ithaca with her 43rd goal of the year. She fired a shot past Smeader from a tight angle.
• William Smith took the lead with a pair of goals in the closing seconds of the opening frame. Daniels and Davis notched unassisted goals It was their 30th and 25th goals of the season, respectively.
• The Herons extended the lead to three goals just under five minutes into the second quarter. Montgomery bounced home a free position shot for her 68th goal of the year.
• The defenses and goalies stepped up again as the teams went seven minutes without a goal. Lily Cody ended the scoreless drought with 3:49 left in the half. She slipped a free position shot past Smeader for her ninth goal of the year.
• William Smith regained a two-goal lead Pellechia beat Held for her 33rd goal of the year. McGinty was credited with an assist on the goal.
• Just under six minutes into the second half, Veitch ripped home her 52nd goal of the season, making it 4-3, but that would be as close as Ithaca would get.
• The Herons took control of the game, scoring the next five goals. McMahon started the run with her 28th goal of the season, dunking home a pass from McGinty. Less than a minute later, McGinty scored a goal of her own, firing home a shot from a tight angle.
• Daniels gave William Smith a four-goal lead with her second goal of the game. She bounced home a shot for her 31st goal of the year. First-year Hannah Evans was awarded an assist on the tally. Two minutes later, Montgomery dodged around a defender and fired a shot past Held. Her 69th goal of the season was unassisted. McGinty closed out the third quarter, beating Held in transition. Katherine Murray was credited with an assist on the goal.
• McMahon opened the fourth quarter, pocketing her 29th goal of the season off a feed from McGinty. It was a mirror image of the goal in the third quarter.
• Veitch briefly halted the William Smith run with her 53rd goal of the year. Sydney Phillips recorded an assist on the goal. It was the Bombers' first goal in just over 15 minutes.
• The Herons put the finishing touches, scoring the game's final four goals. Pellechia started the run, notching her 34th goal of the year off a feed from McGinty. One minute later, Emily Griffin scored her ninth goal. Daniels completed her hat trick with 4:39 remaining in regulation and Davis tacked on a free position goal to round out the scoring. The final three goals of the game were unassisted.

 
MOP

• McGinty finished the tournament with 10 points on five goals and five assists. In addition to her six points in today's contest, she had four points on three goals and an assist in the semifinals.
• McGinty now has 99 career assists. She needs just one to become the second player in program history to record 100 career assists.
• McGinty is the first player to repeat as the Liberty League Tournament's Most Outstanding Player since Sarah Honan did it in 2016 and 2017.