SPARKS GLENCOE, Md.—The seventh-ranked William Smith lacrosse team used a fast start and a smothering defense to knock off sixth-ranked Washington and Lee in a non-conference contest at USA Lacrosse Headquarters this afternoon. With the win, the Herons conclude their regular season with a 15-2 overall record.
 
Junior Mia Falco led the William Smith offense with four points on two goals and two assists. Junior Grace Rund had a hat trick and won a game-high five draw controls. Senior Delaney Cassidy and junior Kira Fulton had two-goal games.
 
The Herons' defense limited Washington & Lee to a season-low five goals. The Generals entered the game averaging 15.13 goals per game.  William Smith also held the Generals to a season-low 15 shots. Junior Janey Sypeck had a game-high four caused turnovers and three ground balls. Sophomore Maeve Barrins had two caused turnovers. Graduate student Casey Fiore played all 60 minutes in goal. She made five saves.
 
The Generals (13-4) were led by Kelly Polacek, who had three points on a goal and two assists. Sophie Edwards had two goals. Hannah Russel won two draws and had three caused turnovers to pace Washington and Lee's offense. Christina Petras and Dagny Tombaugh had three ground balls each. Iman Haddad played all 60 minutes in goal and made eight saves.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• William Smith outshot the Generals 30-15, including a 15-9 edge in shots on goal.
• The Herons dominated the draw circle 11-5, and both teams had 14 ground balls.
• William Smith was 14-for-15 on clear attempts and Washington and Lee was 16-for-19 clearing the ball.

 
SCORING SUMMARY

• The Herons jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first 15 minutes and never looked back. Fulton opened the scoring 43 seconds into the game. She collected a pass from Falco and buried the shot past Haddad.
• After eight minutes of strong defensive play on both sides, Falco notched a goal of her own. She split a pair of defenders and slipped a shot past the Generals' goalie. Thirty seconds later, Grace Rund collected a pass from Falco and ripped a shot into the back of the net. Fulton extended the lead to four goals with 4:26 in the opening frame.
• Junior Katie Grottenthaler wrapped up the first quarter with a free position goal with 3:39 left in the first quarter.
• Rund extended the lead to six goals just under 10 minutes into the second quarter.
• One minute later, Sophie Edwards briefly halted the William Smith run, scoring a woman-up goal on a feed from Kelly Polacek.
• Falco scored her second goal of the game with 3:19 left in the first half. It was an unassisted tally.
• Washington and Lee scored three of the four goals in the third quarter, but only cut the lead to 8-4 after 45 minutes.
• Polacek, Edwards and Katie Reed had tallies for the Generals. Polacek's goal came a woman up and was unassisted. Edwards' goal was assisted by Hannah Van Son and Reed's game was set up by Polacek.
• Rund had the William Smith goal in the stanza to complete her hat trick.
• Cassidy scored twice in the fourth quarter. Her first goal came on a free position goal and her second tally came with 46 seconds remaining in regulation.
• Lara Baki had the Generals' lone goal in the frame.

 
STEAKING

• Fulton extended her point streak to 31 games. She has at least one point in 35 of her last 36 games.
• Grottenthaler has had at least one point in all 16 games she's played in. Dating back to her time at Youngstown State, Grottenthaler has had points in 34 straight games.

 
UP NEXT
William Smith will be back in action on Friday, May 1, when it hosts one of two Liberty League semifinals. The Herons earned a first-round bye and will await the winner of one of Tuesday's first round games.