GENEVA, NY—Eighth-ranked Union defeated the 11th-ranked William Smith lacrosse team 15-8 Friday in Liberty League action on McCooey Field. The Herons drop to 12-3 overall and 5-2 in conference play, while the Dutchwomen improve to 12-2 on the season and 7-1 in the league.The Herons drop to 12-3 overall and 5-2 in conference play, while the Dutchwomen improve to 12-2 on the season and 7-1 in the league.

Three Dutchwomen recorded four points to lead Union. Freshman Chelsea Charette (South Hadley, MA), sophomore Steph Egizi (Westwood, MA) and senior Keri Messa (Saratoga Springs, NY) all tallied two goals and two assists. Sophomore Allie Cuozzo (Norfolk, MA) also added two goals and an assist.

Sophomore Molly Fitzgerald led the Herons with three goals and two assists, while first-year Cassie Findlay netted two goals, and senior Rachel Stahl notched a goal and a helper. First-year Kara Grogan and sophomore Sarah Goodkind each tallied once for the hosts as well.

Cuozzo opened the scoring 4 minutes, 46 seconds into the contest. The Dutchwomen's first score was quickly answered by a tally from William Smith's Findlay at the 25:47 mark. Just 37 seconds later, Egizi netted her first goal of the day, assisted by Charette, to put the visitors back up 2-1.

The Herons again found an answer, this time in the form of Fitzgerald. She was responsible for the next two goals, giving William Smith its only lead of the day, 3-2, with 21:38 remaining in the first half. Union began to pull away after Messa sparked a five-goal scoring run with 20:39 left to play in the period. Stahl and first-year Dutchwoman Kristin Joyce (Longmeadow, MA) traded goals to end the half, giving the visitors an 8-4 advantage at the break.

Union kept the pressure on in the second stanza, outscoring the Herons 7-4. Goodkind and Findlay scored the final two goals of the game, but could not dig William Smith out of its deficit.

The Dutchwomen held a slim 38-32 advantage in total shots, while the Herons recorded a slight 21-20 advantage in ground balls.

William Smith junior netminder Becky Josefiak collected 12 saves, while senior Morgan Baird stopped three shots in relief. First-year goalie Cat Ruggiero (Huntington, NY) finished with 17 saves for Union.

William Smith and Union will meet again on May 2 in the semi final round of the Liberty League Tournament hosted by Hamilton College.

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