Five members of the William Smith lacrosse team were recognized by USA Lacrosse Magazine as All-Americans today. The Herons joined Gettysburg leading the way with three first team All-American selections.
 
Senior midfielder Maddie Montgomery, senior defender Kate Risley and junior goalie Maura Smeader were selected to the first team. Sophomore midfielder Natalie Daniels was named to the second team and senior attacker Allie McGinty was placed on the third team. William Smith's five All-American selections were second only to Gettysburg.
 
Montgomery was named to the first team for the second straight year. A starter in all 20 games, she leads the Herons with 70 goals, 84 points and 36 caused turnovers. She is second on the team with 66 draw controls and 40 ground balls. Montgomery has recorded at least one goal in 19 games this season. She scored a season-high six goals in wins over Geneseo and Union. Montgomery has scored five or more goals seven times this season. During the Liberty League tournament, Montgomery had 11 caused turnovers, 10 draw controls and 12 ground balls across the three games. Her five caused turnovers against St. Lawrence were a career-high.  She matched her own William Smith single-game record with 12 draw controls against Geneseo.
 
The two-time Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year, Montgomery has played in 77 career games. She has compiled 273 goals 60 assists and 333 points. She also has 312 draw controls, 111 ground balls and 79 caused turnovers. Montgomery holds the William Smith career records for draw controls and goals and is second in points. She was also a USA Lacrosse Magazine third team All-American as a sophomore.
 
Risley is a key piece of William Smith's defensive unit. The Fairfield, Connecticut, native has started 19 of the 20 games this season. She has 19 caused turnovers and 28 ground balls. Risley had two caused turnovers in seven different games this year. She had four ground balls in wins over Union and Skidmore. Risley also has two draw controls. Risley and the William Smith defense enter the NCAA tournament ninth in the nation in scoring defense (6.85).
 
This is the second time Risley has been named an All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine. She was a third team pick in 2022. Risley has played in 74 career games, starting 70. She has 81 caused turnovers, 142 ground balls and four draw controls. Risley is seventh on William Smith's career caused turnover list.
 
Smeader moves up to the first team after earning third team honors last year. The Wilmington, Delaware, native has started 19 games this season. She is 16-3 with a 7.17 GAA and a .507 save percentage. Smeader enters the NCAA tournament ranked fifth in the nation in GAA and 11th in save percentage. She made a season-high 12 saves in William Smith's victory over then No. 4 Salisbury. Smeader has also made 10 saves five times. In addition, she leads the team with 42 ground balls. Smeader had a season-high six ground balls against York and Rensselaer.
 
A three-year starter, Smeader is 54-6 overall. She has a 7.19 GAA and a .483 save percentage. She is second on William Smith's career wins list, sixth in GAA and ninth in saves (376). Smeader was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American as a sophomore.
 
Daniels earned USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American honors for the first time. A preseason All-American selection by the publication, she has started all 20 games this season. Daniels is second on the team with 64 goals and 75 points. She leads the Herons with 84 draw controls. She scored a season-high five goals in three different games this season. Daniels had a season-high eight draw controls against York.
 
The 2023 Liberty League Rookie of the Year, Daniels has played in 42 games. She has 104 goals, 18 assists and 122 points. Daniels adds 171 draw controls, 22 caused turnovers and 60 ground balls.  She is already fifth on William Smith's career draw control list.
 
McGinty was honored for the third straight year by the publication and earned third team praise for the second time. She has started all 20 games this season. She leads the team with 46 assists and is second with 75 points. McGinty had a career-high nine points on three goals and six assists against Vassar in the regular season finale. She followed that up with a six-point game against St. Lawrence in the first round of the Liberty League tournament. McGinty had five assists in road games against Clarkson and Cortland.
 
One of the best playmakers in program history, McGinty is a three-year starter. She has 104 goals, 153 assists and 257 points. She is second on William Smith's career assists list and is fifth in points. McGinty has three of the top six assist marks in single-season history, including the record 60 in 2022. She enters the NCAA tournament with points in 62 straight games.
 
William Smith is ranked sixth in the latest USA Lacrosse Magazine Poll. The Herons will host the winner of Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Plymouth State in their NCAA tournament opener at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 13.