Box Score

GENEVA, NY (April 30, 2011) – William Smith senior attack Cassie Findlay scored the game-winning goal with six seconds left in regulation play to provide the Herons with a dramatic 17-16 victory that thwarted a potentially stunning comeback victory by the Vassar College women's lacrosse team on Saturday afternoon in the final game of the 2011 season.

Down 11-5 in the opening minute of the second half, the Brewers stormed back to take a 15-14 lead after senior midfielder Sarah Warner scored her sixth goal of the game with 7:36 to play. Trailing 16-15 with 2:55 remaining, senior attack Moe Byrne notched a goal with just 45 seconds to play off a Warner assist to knot the game at 16-all. After Byrne's third goal of the game, Warner abruptly won the ensuing draw control. The Brewers had an opportunity at victory, but senior midfielder Emily Kloppenburg had her shot saved by William Smith first year goalie Maggie McNair. Unfortunately, the Brewers were whistled for offsides on the next possession. The Herons then moved swiftly down field with 26 seconds left and Findlay's shot with six seconds remaining got past Vassar senior goalie Nicole Engelhardt for the William Smith victory.

Vassar ends its season at 7-8, 2-6, while William Smith closes out at 6-9, 4-4.

Kloppenburg and Warner helped the Brewers storm back into the game by scoring three goals each in the second half. Down 11-5 just 12 seconds into the second half, Vassar got three of its next four goals from Kloppenburg, a pair from Warner and back to back goals from Byrne with 13:07 and 12:13 remaining in the contest to tie the game at 14-14. Warner's unassisted goal with 7:36 to play provided the Brewers with a 15-14 advantage -- only their second lead of the game after going up 4-3 off a Warner goal midway through the first half.

The game was tied at 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 before the Herons went on a 7-1 run that prompted an 11-5 lead after getting two goals each from junior midfielder Kathryn Gillian and sophomore midfielder Kathleen Ragan during that span.

"Our seniors were awesome today and rose to the occasion, competing like champions," said head coach Judy Finerghty, "They gave everything they had, never stopped battling and believing in each other. When we needed them the most they came up with some of the best performances of their career. They were amazing. I couldn't have been prouder with the effort each and every one of them gave us today."

Warner tallied six times for the Brewers, finishing her career with 177 goals, second best all-time behind Ali Fantl's 180 goals from 2004-07. Kloppenburg had the second four-goal game of her career and Byrne had three goals, giving her 80 for a career.

Engelhardt made 21 saves in the contest, the fourth best performance in her career.

Ragan led William Smith with four goals. The Herons split goalie duties with sophomore Jesse Wilson making three saves and allowing 13 goals in 46:53 of action. McNair earned the victory in 13:07 of action.