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Herons advance to UCAA lax title tilt
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Amanda Wynn |
May 3, 2003
GENEVA, N.Y.—Top-seeded William Smith College advanced to the UCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship game with a 10-4 victory today over fourth-seeded St. Lawrence University. Senior midfielder Amanda Wynn (Loomis Chaffee/Aspen, Colo.) led the seventh-ranked Herons with three goals.
William Smith (13-2) opened the scoring on senior attacker Megan Shea’s (Mountain Lakes/Doylestown, Pa.) 42nd goal of the season. The Saints (11-4) pulled even two minutes later on junior midfielder Jenny Hefler’s (Williamsville South/Williamsville, N.Y.) 45th tally of the year. Senior midfielder Jackie Toner (Geneva/Geneva, N.Y.) put the Herons back in front midway through the first half, but St. Lawrence equalized four minutes later on a free position goal by first-year midfielder Kat Smithson (Millbrook School/Lawrenceville, N.J.).
Toner and junior attacker Gretchen Lasda (West Genesee/Camillus, N.Y.) registered back-to-back markers in the final three minutes of the opening stanza to send William Smith into the break with a 4-2 lead.
The Saints could have found themselves in a much deeper hole if it weren’t for the strong play of junior goalie Desiree McKoan (Hotchkiss School/Waccabuc, N.Y.). She carded seven of her 13 stops during the opening 30 minutes.
After the break, the Heron offense broke open the game with six straight scores. Wynn keyed the scoring burst with all three of her tallies.
By the time St. Lawrence finally solved the William Smith defense with less than four minutes remaining, the Herons were subbing liberally in preparation for tomorrow’s title game.
Lasda finished with two goals and an assist, while Shea recorded a goal and two helpers. Hefler led the Saints with a goal and two assists.
Junior goalie Becca Splain (Middlebury Union/Middlebury, Vt.) earned her 11th win of the season with eight saves.
William Smith will face the winner of today’s Skidmore-Hamilton game at noon on May 4 for the UCAA Championship. The champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.