Liberty League unveils 2017 Field Hockey Awards; Wood earns second straight Player of the Year
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Hannah Wood, Senior, Forward, William Smith College
For the second straight year, William Smith forward Hannah Wood has been selected as the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year. Wood closed out her senior year, the same as her other three years as a Heron, as the team’s top offensive weapon. She paced William Smith in goals (21) and points (49) for the fourth consecutive season. She became the first Heron to record four 20-plus goal seasons. Wood led the league in goals and points, ending her career at William Smith as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 90 goals, 91 for her career. She also became only the second player in William Smith program history to record 200-plus career points, ending her career with 214.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Courtney Dunham, Junior, Defense, University of Rochester
For the fourth consecutive season, the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year honors has been awarded to a University of Rochester player. Dunham anchored the team’s defensive unit that went undefeated in Liberty League play (7-0) and posted an overall mark of 17-3. The Yellowjackets claimed their first league title this season in their third straight Liberty League championship game appearance. The defense allowed a league-low 18 goals and recorded a league-high nine shutouts on the year. She also had a hand in the offense with five goals and two assists for 12 points.
CO-ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Heather Poisson, Goalkeeper, Union College
CO-ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Sarah Winters, Midfielder, Skidmore College
Union College goalkeeper Heather Poisson and Skidmore College midfielder Sarah Winters were selected as the 2017 Liberty League Co-Rookies of the Year.
Poisson hit the ground running for the Dutchwomen in her first year between the pipes. She finished the year with a 7-6 overall record, including a 5-2 mark against non-conference opponents. Her seven wins is the highest win total for a Union goalie since 2011 and the best winning percentage (.538) since 2009. She ends her rookie campaign ranked seventh in Division III for save percentage (.833) and 27th in saves per game (9.0), while leading the league in both categories. The two-time Rookie of the Week honoree, went undefeated in overtime games, 3-0 and making 20 total saves in 43:44.
Winters made an immediate impact in her first year in a Thoroughbred uniform, starting every game this season. She was fourth on the team in scoring with six goals in the regular season. In the 2017 Liberty League tournament, where the Thoroughbreds advanced to the championship. She recorded three points, an assist on the overtime game-winner in the league semifinal against Vassar and a goal in the championship game. She was a three-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week selection and was tops among all league freshman in scoring with her 15 points.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: University of Rochester – Head Coach Wendy Andreatta; Assistant Coaches Margaret McConnell & Tara Lamberti
The University of Rochester field hockey coaching staff were unanimously selected as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year as voted by the league’s head coaches. Head Coach Wendy Andreatta and her assistants directed the Yellowjackets to an overall record of 17-3 and an undefeated mark in league play at 7-0. The team won its first outright Liberty League regular season and championship title for the first time in program history. Rochester led the league in goals against average (0.90) and shutouts (7). Offensively, the Yellowjackets were ranked second among league leaders in scoring, averaging 2.3 goals per game. Rochester has been ranked in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll all season long and head to the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in program history.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
F- Megan Caveny, Jr., Vassar
F- Mikaela DiBello, Jr., RPI
F- Claire Dickerson, Sr., Rochester
F- Hannah Wood, Sr., William Smith
M- Miranda Davenport, So., Skidmore
M- Alexandra Frary, Sr., William Smith
M- Colleen Maillie, So., Rochester
M- Amanda Schell, Sr., Ithaca
B- Courtney Dunham, Jr., Rochester
B- Monica Feeley, Jr., Vassar
B- Marissa Folts, Jr., Skidmore
GK- Heather Poisson, Fr., Union
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM
F- Gabby Hyman, Jr., Skidmore
F- Olivia Denny, Sr., Rochester
F- Lucy Stillman, Jr., St. Lawrence
F- Charlotte Leyland, So., Union
F- Fallon Adair, Jr., William Smith
M- Rachel Andreana, Sr., Union
M- Maya Haigis, So., Rochester
M- Cristina Lopez, So., Vassar
B- Taylor Clink, Jr., RPI
B- Maura Moran, Sr., William Smith
GK- Elizabeth Coughlin, Jr., Skidmore
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION
F- Michaela Donohue, Sr., Ithaca
F- Megan Jones, Sr., RPI
M- Sierramarie Fitzgerald, Jr., William Smith
M- Melissa Grosshans, Jr., St. Lawrence
M- Sarah Winters, Fr., Skidmore
B- Katherine Klecha, Jr., William Smith
B- Kayla Rose, Sr., Skidmore
B- Molly Wood, So., St. Lawrence
GK- Savanna Lenker, So., Ithaca
GK- Liz Rotolo, So., Vassar