The second-ranked William Smith lacrosse team will welcome St. John Fisher to Geneva Wednesday, March 27, for a midweek nonconference battle. Action between the Herons and the Cardinals is set for 4:30 p.m. on Boswell Field at David J Urick Stadium.

William Smith is ranked No. 2 in the IL Women/IWLCA and USA Lacrosse Magazine polls and is off to a 7-0 start for the second-straight season, including a 5-0 record at home. The Herons opened Liberty League play last weekend with wins over Union (12-6) and RPI (15-9). William Smith also earned its second top-10 victory of the season last week as it defeated fourth-ranked Salisbury 10-7 in Panama City Beach, Florida, on March 18.

Junior goalie Maura Smeader was named the USA Lacrosse Magazine Women's Division III Player of the Week as well as the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Week after tallying 27 saves in the 3-0 week. Senior Maddie Montgomery was named the conference's Offensive Performer of the Week after recording 15 points on 11 goals and four assists last week.

St. John Fisher is receiving votes in both national polls and brings a 2-5 record to Geneva. The Cardinals are coming off a 13-11 loss to No. 20 Ithaca College, on Saturday. Four of their five losses have come by one goal or less, including setbacks to then No. 14 Roanoke and No. 16 Christopher Newport.

Fans who can't make the trip to Geneva can follow the action with HWS All-Access and Live Stats. The game will also be broadcast on WHWS-FM (105.7 in Geneva).

ABOUT THE HERONS: 

• Sophomore Natalie Daniels ranks 21st in the nation in free position percentage (.750) and has scored two game-winning goals.
• Montgomery leads the team with 35 points on 29 goals and six assists. Senior Allie McGinty follows with 25 points on seven goals and 18 assists, while Daniels has chipped in 23 points on 20 goals and three assists.
• Daniels leads the team with 31 draw controls, while Montgomery has recorded 28.
• The Herons rank 14th nationally in scoring defense (6.86) and clearing percentage (.899). William Smith ranks 26th in scoring margin (+6.57).
• First-year Janey Sypeck leads the team with 11 caused turnovers while Montgomery has chipped in 10.
• Smeader has played every minute in goal for William Smith. She is 7-0 with a 6.82 GAA and a .538 save percentage. She leads the Liberty League in both categories and is eighth in the nation in GAA and 11th in save percentage.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS: 

• Mary Fiorentino leads the team with 20 points on nine goals and 11 assists. Sydney Carpenter follows close behind with 19 points on 15 goals and four assists.
• Maddie Lowney leads St. John Fisher in ground balls (25) and draw controls (29).
• Carpenter has recorded a team-leading 14 caused turnovers this season.
• The Cardinals rank eighth in the nation in clear percentage (.908).
• Kaylee Gadol has played just over 400 minutes in goal for St. John Fisher and has posted a 1-5 record in her rookie season. She has recorded a 9.18 GAA and a .451 save percentage.

SERIES HISTORY: 

• Wednesday's game will be the 21st meeting between William Smith and St. John Fisher.
• The Herons hold an 11-9 edge in the series, including a 6-3 advantage in Geneva.
• Fifteen of the 20 previous meetings between the Herons and the Cardinals have been decided by two goals or less, including both meetings last spring.
• On May 20, 2023, William Smith defeated St. John Fisher 6-5 in Geneva to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals. Montgomery scored the game-winner with 2:10 remaining in the contest.
• Earlier in the season, a 4-0 run by the Herons propelled William Smith to a 10-9 win in Rochester. Daniels tallied the game-winner with 3:35 remaining.