TROY, N.Y. - Sophomore Ali Burns scored a game-high four goals to lead the William Smith College women's lacrosse team to a 14-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Liberty League action on Saturday at Renwyck Field. With the win, the Herons improve to 3-5 overall (2-0 Liberty League), while the Engineers drop to 4-4 (0-2 Liberty League).

Burns (Hingham, MA/Hingham) scored two goals in each half, including the third tally in a 46-second span to open the game for the Herons. Senior Hannah Connolly (Watertown, NY/Immaculate Heart Central) had the other two goals, which got the visitors off to a fast start.

Senior Geneva Calder (Toronto, ON/Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute) and junior Allie Flaherty (South Burlington, VT/South Burlington) made it 5-0 William Smith before the halfway point of the opening stanza.

Rensselaer made its way on the scoreboard with 14:50 to play in the first half, when senior Mackenzie O'Neil (Duxbury, MA/Milton Academy) found classmate Erin DeLucca (East Lyme, CT/East Lyme) crashing the front of the cage for the close range finish. The goal was DeLucca's third of the weekend and seventh of the season.

After William Smith sophomore Melissa Moore (Dedham, MA/Noble and Greenough) made it 6-1 with 9:45 left in the half, the Herons then scored four times in the 2:52 to take a 10-1 advantage. Moore capped the rally with tight angle shot that found its way past RPI freshman goalie Rebecca Wilen (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) as time expired in the first.

The Herons registered the first four goals of the second half, including two from Burns to open up a 14-1 lead.

RPI freshman Michelle Bolger (Williston, VT/Rice Memorial) was able to net her eighth goal of the season on a free position attempt with 20 seconds left.

Wilen (0-2) finished with six saves on 16 shots, while classmate Aleena Milinski (Beaver Falls, PA/Blackhawk) had three stops on seven shots. William Smith junior netminder Sarah Honan (Medfield, MA/Medfield) made three saves in the opening 45 minutes, before giving way to senior Allie O'Hara (Redding, CT/Joel Barlow) who stopped one of two shots that she faced.

The Engineers are back in action next Friday and Saturday, when they travel to Vassar (4pm) and Bard (3pm), respectively. William Smith hosts Clarkson and St. Lawrence next Friday (4pm) and Saturday (3pm).