OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cas Szwajkowski, Senior, Attack, Skidmore College
Skidmore College senior Cas Szwajkowski earned Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year honors after starting all 18 games for the Thoroughbreds this season. She was the team’s top offensive weapon with a team and league-best 90 goals. She also dished out eight assists and totaled a league-high 98 points. Szwajkowski was tops in the league in goals (5.00), points (5.44) and shots (8.67) per game. She also recorded 97 draw controls, good for second on the team. Szwajkowsi, a five-time Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week selection, set Skidmore’s single season scoring and points record this season. She also tied Skidmore’s single season scoring record of nine goals in a game three times this season. Szwajkowski and the Thoroughbreds advanced to the league semifinals for the fourth time in five years, finishing with an overall record of 12-6 (7-3 Liberty League).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mekayla Montgomery, Sophomore, Defense, William Smith College
William Smith College sophomore defender Mekayla Montgomery was named the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. As a team, the Herons posted a league-best 10.68 caused turnovers per game and they are second in ground balls per game (21.47). A starter in 18 of 19 games this season, Montgomery has played an integral role in the Herons’ defense as they led the league and are ranked 14th nationally in scoring defense (6.79). She paces the team in caused turnovers (41), ground balls (47) and draw controls (91). Among league leaders, she was first in caused turnovers per game (2.16) and second in ground balls per game (4.12). Her 91 draw controls is a single season record for William Smith. She also scored eight goals and added three assists for 11 points.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Caeli Porette, Midfielder, Vassar College
Vassar College first-year midfielder Caeli Porette was selected the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. The Brewers reached the Liberty League tournament for the first time since 2015, finishing the year at 8-8 (5-5 Liberty League). Porette was one of the Brewers’ top players on both sides of the ball as she led the team with 44 ground balls, 32 caused turnovers and 79 draw controls (79) while also ranking second on the team in scoring (52 points). The three-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week pick, recorded a team-high 40 goals and dished out 12 assists this season. Among league leaders, she was second in caused turnovers per game (4.12), fifth in ground balls (2.75) and draw controls per game (4.94), sixth in shots per game (6.06) and tenth in goals per game (2.50).
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: William Smith College – Head Coach Anne Phillips; Assistant Coaches Morgan Ewert, Hannah Connolly and Mark Phillips
William Smith head coach Anne Phillips and her assistants Morgan Ewert, Hannah Connolly and Mark Phillips were named Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year in a vote by the league’s coaches. They guided the Herons to an overall record of 17-2 and an undefeated mark of 10-0 against conference opponents. William Smith was a defensive minded team this season with a league-best goals against average (6.79), which ranks them among the top-15 defenses in Division III. They were also the league leaders in ground balls (21.47) and caused turnovers (10.68) per game. The Herons captured its fourth straight Liberty League title and head to the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in four years.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM:
A- Ellie Burns, So., William Smith
A- Bailey Herr, Jr., Ithaca
A- Cas Szwajkowski, Sr., Skidmore
M- Jacqui Hallack, So., Ithaca
M- Emily Hirsch, So., Skidmore
M- Fiona MacLeod, Sr., Vassar
M- Anna Murphy, So., William Smith
M- Caeli Porette, Fr., Vassar
D- Ellen Arena, So., William Smith
D- Mekayla Montgomery, So., William Smith
D- Reid Simoncini, Sr., Ithaca
G- Olivia Hofmann, So., William Smith
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM:
A- Jaid Baytos, Sr., Clarkson
A- Alanna Fallone, Jr., RIT
A- Lindsay Gerrato, So., Union
A- Allie Panara, Sr., Ithaca
A- Sydney Roderick, Fr., Clarkson
M- Abby Collins, Jr., Clarkson
M- Kellie Cronin, Sr., Union
M- Natalie LaBeau, Sr., Skidmore
M- Nora Molino, So., RPI
M- Colette Rigas, So., RIT
M- Jamison Seabury, Jr., Rochester
D- Maddi Dillabough, Jr., RIT
D- Erin Goodwin, Sr., RPI
D- Molly Nodiff, So., Ithaca
G- Paulina Goodermote, So., RIT
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION:
A- Kelly Pushie, Jr., Vassar
M- Anna Boogaerts, Sr., Skidmore
M- Sadie Mapstone, So., William Smith
M- Melissa Rosenthal, Jr., Bard
M- Isabel Silvia, Fr., St. Lawrence
D- Amanda Cagnassola, Jr., Skidmore
D- Sydney Nemphos, Jr., Vassar
D- Bri Stout, Jr., Union
G- Aleena Milinski, Sr., RPI