MIDDLEBURY, Vt.—The 13th-ranked William Smith lacrosse team was edged by eighth-ranked York in a NCAA third round game at Peter Kohn Field this afternoon. The Herons conclude their season with a 14-5 overall record.
Senior Katherine Murray and juniors Delaney Cassidy and Kayla Quirk led William Smith with two goals each. Senior Nikki Pio had a game-high three caused turnovers and Lily Kuhn had a team-high three ground balls. Senior Kate Colvin had a game-high 10 draw controls. Senior Maura Smeader played all 60 minutes in goal and made 10 saves.
Logan Ward led the Spartans (18-3) with four points on three goals and an assist. Leah Vacin had a team-high four draw controls. Bella Garabo played all 60 minutes in goal and made 14 saves. She also had 12 ground balls.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- York finished the game with a 28-26 advantage in shots and an 18-15 advantage in ground balls.
- William Smith won the battle in the draw circle 14-8. The Herons were 14-for-15 on clear attempts, and York was 22-for-26 on its clear attempts.
CLIMBING THE LADDER
- With two goals today, Katherine Murray finishes her career with 204 points on 154 goals and 50 assists. She is 12th on William Smith's career points list, eighth on the career goals list and 17th in career assists.
- With three caused turnovers today, Nikki Pio moved up to 12th on William Smith's career list.
- Maura Smeader finishes her career with a record of 71-12. Her 71 wins smashed the program record.
MATCH MOMENTS
- The teams traded goals in the opening frame. The Spartans opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game. Sydney Mentzer converted on a free-position attempt for her 37th goal of the year.
- Thirty seconds later, Murray tied the game with her 50th goal of the year.
- After a series of defensive stops, the Spartans took a 2-1 lead on Katie Jeanes' goal. Her tally was assisted by Krista Yarusso.
- William Smith led at the end of 15 minutes. Kira Fulton buried her 32nd goal of the season on a feed from Colvin. Murray converted on a dish from Fulton. It was Murray's 51st goal of the year.
- York took control of the game with a 4-1 run in the second quarter.
- Katie Feldman made it 3-3 with 11:58 remaining in the half.
- Cassidy answered 41 seconds later on a free-position attempt to make it 4-3.
- The Spartans ended the half on a three-goal run. Ward scored twice during the run
- 'With York leading 6-4 at the break. The game was thrown into a lightning delay that lasted 3.5 hours
- After the break, William Smith drew within one on Quirk's woman-up free position goal, but that would be as close as the Herons would get.
- The Spartans rattled off three straight goals to make it 9-5 with 6:40 left in the third quarter.
- Cassidy halted York's run with her 12th goal of the year. Her free-position goal made it 9-6.
- York scored the final two goals of the frame making it 11-6 headed into the third quarter.
- William Smith tried to make it a game down the stretch but could only score twice in the final quarter.
- Quirk notched her 21st goal of the year and Luzi logged her 30th of the season.
CLASS OF 2025
William Smith's Class of 2025 finish their careers with an overall record of 73-12. Katherine Murray, Kate Colvin, Tabitha Weier, Livvy Von Heill, Lauren Weppler, Nikki Pio and Maura Smeader, guided the Herons to four NCAA tournament appearances, including two trips to the national semifinals.