The William Smith lacrosse team will be back in action on Saturday, March 2, when it welcomes York College of Pennsylvania to Boswell Field at David J. Urick Stadium for a top-10 clash.  Opening Draw is scheduled for 11 a.m. It will be the first game of a doubleheader, the Statesmen are scheduled to take on Robert Morris at 2 p.m.
 
The Herons, who are ranked third in both the IL Women/IWLCA poll and the US Lacrosse Magazine poll, are 1-0 to start the season. William Smith dispatched Nazareth 16-2 last Saturday. Ten different players scored and Maura Smeader was named the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Week following an eight-save performance against the Golden Flyers.
 
The Spartans, who are seventh in the coaches poll and ninth in the US Lacrosse Magazine Poll, are 0-1. They dropped their season opener to sixth-ranked Franklin & Marshall on Wednesday night 14-10.
 
Fans who can't make it to Geneva can follow all the action with HWS All-Access Video and Live Stats. The game will also be broadcast on WHWS-FM (105.7 in Geneva).
 
ABOUT THE HERONS

• Sophomore Natalie Daniels leads the Herons with four goals and four draw controls. She was named to the Liberty League's weekly honor roll following her performance against Nazareth.
• Senior Allie McGinty had six points on two goals and four assists in the opener.
• Senior Maddie Montgomery, the preseason USA Lacrosse Magazine Player of the Year, had four points on three goals and an assist.
• Sophomore Taryn Luzi had two caused turnovers against the Golden Flyers. She was one of eight Herons with a caused turnover.

 
ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• York is looking to bounce back from a season-opening loss to the Diplomats. F&M scored three goals in the third quarter and held the Spartans scoreless.
• Zoe Kluegel and Sydney Mentzer each had hat tricks in the win. Mentzer won a game-high eight draw controls and had four caused turnovers. 
• Bella Garabo played all 60 minutes in goal for the Spartans and made 13 saves. She is the reigning IWLCA Goaltender of the Year
• York was 18-4 in 2023 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament where they were edged by Gettysburg. Including Garabo, the Spartans roster features three preseason All-Americans. Christina Vendelis earned a spot on the third team and Mentzer was an honorable mention pick.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• This will be just the second meeting between York and William Smith.
• The Spartans won 13-5 in Pennsylvania back in 2020. The game was one of the last before the season was canceled because of COVID. Garabo played the final 3:49 in goal and made a save for York.  Payton McMahon '23 and Zoe Cook led the way for William Smith with two goals each. Maddie Montgomery and Molly Davis are the only current Herons who were on the roster in 2020, but they did not see the field.