Following a vote by the conference's eight head coaches, the Liberty League has unveiled the 2024 Field Hockey Major Awards and All-League teams.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Maddie Greco, Sophomore, Forward, Union College
Union College sophomore forward Maddie Greco was selected as the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year. Greco, the 2023 Liberty League Rookie of the Year, continued her offensive prowess with the Garnet Chargers leading the team and league with 20 goals and 44 points. She also handed out four assists and tallied five game-winning goals, good for second in the Liberty League. Greco recorded at least a point in 16-of-20 games and scored a goal in 15-of-20 outings this season. She finished the year tied for 12th in Division III in goals per game (1.00) and 21st in points per game (2.20). This season, Greco broke Union’s single season records in goals and points while leading the squad to its first home Liberty League playoff game in program history.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bella McCollister, Senior, Defense, Ithaca College
Ithaca College senior defender Bella McCollister was recognized as the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. McCollister has played every minute for the Bombers for the third straight year. This season, she anchored a defensive unit that held opponents to less than a goal per game (.80). They were even stingier against league opponents, holding league opponents to a league-low five goals (.71 per game) for the second straight year. The Bombers were the conference’s regular season champions for the third time and posted a pair of 2-0 shutouts en route to the program’s first Liberty League title. The Bombers punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament and face off against Wesleyan University in the First Round on Wednesday, November 13.
CO-ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Caroline Kogut, Defense, William Smith College
William Smith College defender Caroline Kogut was tabbed the Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Year. Kogut started all 19 games for the Herons this season and she hit the ground running in her rookie campaign helping the team on both sides of the ball. Defensively, William Smith held opponents to 1.79 goals per game (34 total) and Kogut paced the squad with four defensive saves. She also had a hand in the Herons’ offense, ending the year as the team’s leading scorer with 12 goals and 27 points (12 G, 3 A). The three-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week produced at least a point in eight of the team’s final 10 games of the season. Kogut was among the Liberty League’s top 10 in defensive saves (4th, 0.21 per game), goals (5th, .632 per game), shots (7th, 3.00 per game), and shots on goal (9th, 1.68 per game).
CO-ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Hannah Mehta, Midfielder, University of Rochester
University of Rochester midfielder Hannah Mehta was named the Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Year. A starter in all 21 games this season, Mehta made an immediate impact in her first year with the Yellowjackets netting a team-high 13 goals and leading the team with 33 points. She ended the year second on the team in game-winning goals (4) and assists (5). Among league leaders, she was second in both shots and shots on goal with 99 and 68, respectively. She was also ranked second in goals and goals per game (.667), third in points and points per game (1.57), and fourth in game-winning goals. She helped Rochester make its 12th consecutive trip to the Liberty League postseason and its second appearance in the title game since 2021.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Union College – Kelly Harchetts, Head Coach; Assistant Coaches Katie Rich and Alicia Aragosa
Union College head coach Kelly Harchetts along with assistant coaches Katie Rich and Alicia Aragosa directed the Garnet Chargers to a 14-6 overall record and a 6-1 ledger against conference opponents. They added three wins to their overall win total from a year ago (11-8), and two of those three wins were conference victories. Union advanced to the Liberty League tournament for the second straight year, the Garnet Chargers earned the second seed and hosted its first home playoff game in program history. Union posted its highest Liberty League finish in program history and matched the second-most wins in a season overall. As a team, the Garnet Chargers had the most potent offense in the conference with 58 goals and averaged 2.9 goals per game. They also paced the conference in points (152) and points per game (7.60) as well as save percentage (.805).