William Smith senior Caitie Baker was named the Liberty League Women's Lacrosse Defensive Performer of the Week this afternoon. Junior Katie Grottenthaler and first-year Cat Colvin were named to the weekly honor roll.
 
In addition, the Herons held at No. 7 in the IWLCA poll and at No. 8 in the USA Lacrosse Magazine Poll. William Smith moved up to No. 9 in this week's NCAA Power Index. NPI is the formula used to select at-large bids for the NCAA tournament.
 
Baker, Grottenthaler and Colvin led William Smith to a 2-0 week in league play. On Friday, the Herons beat Rensselaer 19-6. The next day, the Herons beat Union 12-7. The two wins helped William Smith improve to 14-2 on the season and 10-0 in league play. The win over the Garnet Chargers clinched the league's regular season title for the Herons.
 
Baker guided William Smith's defense that posted a 6.50 GAA against the Engineers and Garnet Chargers. Baker had five caused turnovers and five ground balls in the two wins. On Friday against RPI, she had three caused turnovers. In the Union game, she had a season-high four ground balls and had two caused turnovers. A starter in all 16 games this season, Baker is second on the team with 26 caused turnovers and third on the team with 21 ground balls.
 
Baker is the fourth different Heron to be named the defensive performer of the week. The Herons are 21st in the nation in scoring defense (6.88). Baker and the rest of the defense also play important roles as the Herons are the nation's top clearing team (.932).
 
Grottenthaler was put on the weekly honor roll for the fourth time this season. She played an important role on both ends of the field for the Herons this week, recording six points on five goals and an assist while adding six draw controls, two ground balls and a caused turnover. Against the Engineers, Grottenthaler scored twice, including her 100th career point and had two draw controls. The next day, she had four points on three goals and an assist and added four draw controls. Grottenthaler has started 15 games this season. She is tied for the team lead with 31 goals and is second on the team with 41 draw controls.  Grottenthaler, who spent her first two years at Youngstown State, has recorded at least one point in all 15 games this year and has been on the scoresheet in 33 straight games.
 
Colvin paced William Smith's offense last week. She recorded eight points on five goals and three assists. On Friday, Colvin had a season-high six points, recording her fourth career hat trick. In Saturday's win over Union, Colvin scored twice and had two ground balls. Colvin has started all 16 games during her rookie season. She is second on the team with 42 points. Colvin has recorded at least one point in 15 games this season.
 
William Smith will be back in action on Saturday, April 25, when they take on sixth-ranked Washington and Lee in Sparks Glencoe, Maryland. The game is scheduled to begin at Noon at the USA Lacrosse Headquarters.