GENEVA, NY – The Nazareth University Women's Lacrosse team had a tough season opener having to travel to William Smith to face the third ranked team in the country and the Herons closed out a 16-2 victory Saturday afternoon in the Thomas B. Poole and Family Sports Dome.

The Herons (1-0), ranked No. 3 in the preseason poll issued by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA), scored seven times in the first quarter and added three goals early in the second period to reach a 10-goal lead and force a running time situation. William Smith led 12-0 at the halftime break.

The stingy William Smith defense allowed just four shots in the first half including just one in the second quarter.

In the second half, junior Sophia Scialdone opened the scoring for the Golden Flyers to make it a 13-1 game. The Herons added two more goals before junior Makenna Misiurewicz scored the second Nazareth goal.

Sophomore Allie Klestinec made nine saves in the first half and junior Tori Henchen added seven saves in the second half for the Golden Flyers.