CLIFTON SPRINGS, N.Y.—The William Smith golf team defeated Geneseo 3-1 in a match play event at Clifton Springs Country Club this afternoon.

In the top pairing, Heron senior Caroline Gannon seized control of her match right from the start, winning the first three holes. She was 4 up at the turn and won the first two holes of the back nine to put the pressure on Geneseo's Hanna Bechard. The sophomore won on 11 to trim her deficit to five holes, but Gannon halved the next three holes to win 5 and 4.

In the second pairing, first-year Maggie McCarthy squared off with junior Samantha Petroci. McCarthy also seized control early, winning the first two holes, but could shake Petroci until late. A win on 14 gave the Heron a 3 up advantage that she defended on the next two holes, securing the victory 3 and 2.

At No. 3, junior Tara Valas and Annabel Barberich were square through four holes, but Barberich won seven of the next eight holes to give the Knights their lone point 7 and 6.

In the final pairing, first-year Samantha Murray battled first-year Riley Tripp. Both golfers briefly held the lead in the early going, but the match was square after seven holes. Murray won eight and nine to make the turn 2 up. Tripp won on 10, but Murray took three of the next four holes. Her par on 14 secured the triumph 4 and 3.

William Smith will return to tournament play when the Herons compete in the Keuka Fall Invitational on Wednesday, Sept. 24.