PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – 9th-ranked William Smith College used a big third quarter, scoring eight goals, to power past the University of Rochester women's lacrosse team 19-7 in a Liberty League matchup at Fauver Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Herons (10-1, 5-0 Liberty League) extend their win streak to six games, with Rochester (5-5, 2-4 Liberty League) falling for just the second time in the last six games.
 
In the first quarter, William Smith leading goal scorer Maddie Montgomery got things started with the opening two goals of the game to put the visitors up 2-0. After Rochester's Gracie Giannettino tallied to cut the lead in half, William Smith scored the final two goals of the quarter and it was 4-1 Herons after the opening 15 minutes.
 
Giannettino notched the first goal of the second but just 27 seconds later, William Smith's Anna Murphy answered to get the lead back to three.
 
With 11 minutes left in the half, Rochester's Grace Crochiere fired a score from the free position to make the score 5-3, but William Smith closed the half with three goals in a row to head to intermission with an 8-3 advantage.
 
Kaitlin Pellechia scored with 7:55 left, while Allie McGinty added a player-up goal just 28 seconds later. Molly Davis completed the first half scoring for the Herons, finding the back of the net with 3:16 on the clock.
 
The third quarter was where William Smith asserted itself, outscoring Rochester 8-2, boosting its lead to 16-5. Mia Perkell scored the first goal of the quarter for Rochester, but the Herons scored five unanswered, two by Payton McMahon to jump ahead by nine.
 
After Perkell notched her second tally of the quarter, William Smith closed the frame with three straight, including two by Montgomery to go ahead by twelve. The Herons showed their passing prowess in the third, assisting on seven of the eight goals in the period.
 
Rochester got back within ten after back-to-back goals by Crochiere and Perkell in the fourth quarter, but the Herons lead was too much to overcome at that time.
 
UR's Perkell scored three goals on eight shots to lead the Yellowjackets. Giannettino and Crochiere each finished with two goals. Crochriere also led the Yellowjackets with six draw controls and five ground balls. Emma Little added four draws and four ground balls, while Giannettino and Kate Lindsey each caused three turnovers for the UR defense.
 
Montgomery paced the Herons with five goals. Murphy finished with four goals while Payton McMahon and Molly Davis each had three goals. Davis finished the game with seven points, adding four assists in the game, while McMahon dished out three helpers. Allie McGinty added five points on two goals and three assists.
 
In between the pipes, Maura Smeader picked up the win for William Smith with eight saves. Ava Saffren made eight saves for Rochester in three quarters of action. Sami Dinhofer made one save in playing the final 15 minutes for the Yellowjackets.
 
The Yellowjackets return to action next Saturday with a road conference matchup at Clarkson University.