GENEVA, N.Y.—The fifth-ranked William Smith lacrosse team cruised to a 15-6 victory over Rochester in a Liberty League semifinal on Boswell Field at David J Urick Stadium this afternoon. Junior attacker
Kira Fulton recorded a game-high five points, including her 100th career point in the win.
Fulton had four goals and an assist to pace the Herons' offense that saw nine players score a goal and 10 record a point. Junior
Mia Falco added four points on two goals and two assists. Senior
Taryn Luzi and junior
Katie Grottenthaler also had multi-goal games. Junior
Grace Rund won a game-high five draws and had two ground balls. Sophomore
Lauren Collins had a team-high four ground balls and logged a pair of caused turnovers. Senior
Caitie Baker had a game-high three caused turnovers. Graduate Student
Casey Fiore played all 60 minutes in goal and made eight saves.
The Herons' defense limited Rochester to a season-low six goals and 19 shots. William Smith had 15 caused turnovers in the game. The Yellowjackets had just five shots in the first half.
Allison Weiden led the Yellowjackets with three points on a goal and two assists. Alyssa Gorny scored twice. And had a team-high three draw controls. Jenna Ufberg had two caused turnovers and Weiden led Rochester with five ground balls. Isla Albin played all 60 minutes in goal for the Yellowjackets. She made 12 saves.
FOR THE RECORD
- With the win, William Smith improves to 16-2 this year.
- The Yellowjackets conclude their season with a 15-6 overall record.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Herons finished the game with a 34-19 advantage in shots.
- William Smith had a 21-18 edge in ground balls and a 13-9 edge in the draw circle.
- The Herons were 20-for-23 on clear attempts and Rochester was 14-for-16.
MATCH MOMENTS
- William Smith seized control of the game, outscoring Rochester 12-1 in the first half. In addition to a strong offensive showing, the Herons only allowed five shots in the opening 30 minutes.
- Senior Taryn Luzi opened the scoring 33 seconds into the game. She collected a pass from Falco and buried a shot past the Rochester goalie. One minute later, Rund pocketed her 33rd goal of the year. It was an unassisted goal. Twenty seconds later, Kira Fulton made it a three-goal game. She dodged around a defender and ripped a shot past Ablin for her 25th goal of the season. The goal was Fulton's 100th career point. Collins made it 4-0 just before the four-minute mark. Her 10th goal was assisted by Falco.
- Anna Rogers momentarily halted the Herons' run with her 52nd goal of the season. The tally was assisted by Weiden. That would be as close as Rochester would get as William Smith rattled off the next eight goals.
- Grottenthaler, first-year Cat Colvin and senior Delaney Cassidy closed out the scoring in the first quarter. Grottenthaler and Cassidy's goals were unassisted, while Colvin's tally was set up by fellow first-year Ally Orquiola.
- Fulton had the first two goals of the second quarter. Her hat-trick goal was assisted by Colvin. Falco's 24th goal of the year gave the Herons a 10-1 lead with 8:02 remaining in the half. Three minutes later, Fulton tacked on her fourth goal of the game. It was her 28th goal of the year. Grottenthaler's team-leading 34th goal of the year rounded out the first half's scoring on a free-position goal.
- Rochester scored the first two goals of the second half. Jenna Kessler notched her 22nd goal of the year, and then Gorny scored her 64th goal of the season on an assist from Weiden.
- With 9:34 left in regulation, Falco converted on a free position attempt for her second goal of the game.
- Two minutes later, Gorny scored her second goal of the game and her 65th tally of the season.
- Luzi and junior Iris Polly scored William Smith's final two goals of the game. Luzi's 33rd goal was set up by Colvin and Polly's second goal was assisted by Fulton.
- Tessa Little and Allison Weiden rounded out the scoring with goals in the closing stages of the game.
STREAKING
- Fulton extended her point streak to 32 games. She has at least one point in 36 of her last 37 games.
- Grottenthaler has had at least one point in all 17 games she's played in this year. Dating back to her time at Youngstown State, Grottenthaler has had points in 35 straight games.
UP NEXT
William Smith will be back in action on Sunday, May 3, when it hosts the Liberty League Championship game. The Herons will take on Union at 1 p.m.
