Following a vote by the conference's 11 head coaches, the Liberty League has announced the 2023 Women's Lacrosse Major Awards and All-League teams.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Maddie Montgomery, Senior, Midfielder, William Smith College
For the second straight year, a William Smith lacrosse player has been recognized as the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year with senior Maddie Montgomery garnering the accolades in 2023. Montgomery leads the Herons and the Liberty League with 69 goals and 84 points. She is currently tied for 30th in Division III for total goals and tied for 45th in goals per game. She is ranked second on the team in draw controls with 71 while also picking up 17 ground balls and causing 15 turnovers. Montgomery has recorded at least a point in 31 straight games and 51 of the 53 games she has played for the Herons. She is currently fifth on William Smith's career goals (188) and sixth on the career points list (232).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kate Risley, Junior, Defense, William Smith College
William Smith College junior Kate Risley was named the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. Risley, a starter of all 17 games so far this season, anchors the Herons' defense that ranks 13th nationally for scoring defense, holding opponents to 6.78 goals per game. They have allowed a league-low 122 goals so far this season and only 61 goals against conference foes (6.1 per game). Risley paces the Herons in ground balls with 33 and caused turnovers with 21. A three-year starter, she has recorded 98 ground balls and 55 caused turnovers in 50 career games.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Natalie Daniels, Midfielder, William Smith College
For the third year in a row, a first-year player from William Smith has been selected Rookie of the Year. Natalie Daniels is this year's recipient and she hit the ground running with the Herons. She is one of six Herons to have recorded 30+ points this season. In 18 games, she has scored 32 goals and dished out six assists for 38 points. Among her 32 goals so far this season, six were game-winning tallies. Daniels leads the Herons with 66 draw controls and is ranked seventh among league leaders in draw controls per game (4.22). She has also contributed 26 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers. In her first conference tournament, she recorded a pair of hat tricks for six points to go along with six ground balls and nine draw controls.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: William Smith College – Head Coach Anne Phillips; Assistant Coach Lindsay Magro
William Smith head coach Anne Phillips and her assistant coach Lindsay Magro were named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. They directed the Herons to an unblemished 18-0 overall record (10-0 in league play) through the regular season and the Liberty League tournament. The 18 wins are tied for second-most in program history and the Herons are currently one of three undefeated teams remaining in Division III. William Smith tops the league in both goals per game (16.28) and scoring defense (6.78) while also averaging a league-best 10.17 caused turnovers per game, the team is ranked second in ground balls per game (20). William Smith won its seventh straight league title and the Herons are headed to their 23rd overall NCAA Tournament.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
A-Allie McGinty, Jr., William Smith
A-Megan Shay, Sr., RPI
A-Maizy Veitch, Jr., Ithaca
M- Madelynn Barnum, Jr., Clarkson
M-Natalie Daniels, FY, William Smith
M- Rylie Maready, Sr., RPI
M- Maddie Montgomery, Sr., William Smith
M- Caroline Wise, Jr., Ithaca
D-Trina Chou, Sr., Vassar
D-Kate Risley, Jr., William Smith
D-Abbey Smith, Jr., Rochester
G-Sydney Widlitz, FY, Union
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM
A-Sydney McPartlon, Sr., Union
A-Gabriella Modesti, Jr., Skidmore
A-Charlotte Powell, Sr., St. Lawrence
M-Jacqui Cloutier, Sr., St. Lawrence
M-Greta Maurer, So., Union
M-Reilly Mulcahy, So., Vassar
M-Sydney Phillips, Jr., Ithaca
M-Emma Torkelson, So., Vassar
M-Dana Truini, Sr., Union
D-Kat Cama, So., RPI
D-Rylee Ganter, Jr., Clarkson
D- Kaitlyn Russell, So., Ithaca
D-Kate Wilson, Sr., St. Lawrence
G-Michelle Messenger, Gr., RIT
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION
A-Alyssa Gorny, FY, Rochester
A-Maddy Kretten, Sr., Vassar
A-Julia Lavarnway, Sr., Clarkson
A-Annie Uyeki, Sr., Vassar
M-Grace Crochiere, Jr., Rochester
M-Molly Davis, Sr., William Smith
M-Dana Fernandez, Sr., St. Lawrence
M-Emma Little, Sr., Rochester
M-Payton McMahon, Sr., William Smith
M-Lauren Shanahan, FY, Clarkson
D-Anna Suter, FY, William Smith
G- Maura Smeader, So., William Smith