Women's lacrosse opens 2019 season with loss to No. 16 William Smith

ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT (0-1, 0-1 Liberty League) women's lacrosse team began the 2019 campaign Friday with a 14-11 loss to No. 16 William Smith College (1-0, 1-0 Liberty League) in Liberty League action from chilly RIT Turf Field.

Shots were 33-27 in favor of William Smith. The Herons had 35 ground balls to 20 for the Tigers, while RIT cleared the ball 14-of-24 times. The Tigers went 6-of-13 on free-position attempts, while the Herons were 5-of-8. Krystyna Sterio led the Tigers with four goals, while Alanna Fallone finished with three goals and an assist. Meghan Donohue and Colette Rigas each tallied two goals. Maddi Dillabaugh caused four turnovers and won six draw controls, and Rebekah Snitkoff took the loss in net, making three saves.

Ellie Burns led William Smith with four goals. Bizzer Gahagan and Mekayla Montgomery each scored two goals for the Herons, while Olivia Hofmann got the win in net, making eight saves.

RIT scored first on a free position goal from Sterio early in the first half that gave the Tigers an early lead. William Smith ran off five straight goals, taking a 5-1 lead on Burns goal with 11:22 remaining in the half. The Tigers responded, cutting the Herons lead to 6-4 on Fallone's goal with 5:19 to play.

Goals from Slagle and Rachel Yackel increased the William Smith lead to 8-4, but Rigas scored with 20 seconds remaining in the opening half to make it 8-5 Herons.

Rigas opened the second half scoring, tallying her second of the game off a free position attempt that made it 8-6 Herons. William Smith answered with four straight goals, taking a 12-6 lead on Gahagan's goal with 19:24 to pay. Sterio, Fallone and Donohue tallied consecutive RIT goals, cutting the William Smith lead to 12-9 on Donohue's goal with 12:35 to play.

Montgomery scored two late goals for the Herons, while Sterio and Donohue tallied to make it a 14-11 final.

RIT returns to action on Wednesday, March 6 when the Tigers face The College at Brockport at 4 p.m. in Brockport, N.Y.