A two-sport athlete, Shirtz Howe was an All-American midfielder for the soccer team and a small forward for the basketball team.
On the pitch, Shirtz Howe helped the Herons to a four-year record of 61-9-8, earning four consecutive NCAA tournament bids. She produced 36 goals and eight assists for 80 points. She graduated fourth on the school’s career goals list and fifth on the points list.
Shirtz Howe contributed a goal and an assist as a first-year and bumped up her production to six goals and two assists as a sophomore. She broke out with 15 goals, fourth on the single season list at that time, and four assists during her junior year.
The 1993 Heron soccer team went unbeaten in the regular season, carrying a 16-0-1 record into the NCAA tournament. Shirtz Howe scored the team’s first goal that postseason, propelling William Smith past Denison 3-1 and launching the Herons on a trek to the national semifinals. She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team.
Shirtz Howe played three seasons on the hardwood, missing her junior year to participate in a study abroad program. She helped William Smith go 70-13 with two NCAA tournament appearances. Shirtz Howe was a part of the first 20-win season in school history (21-6 in 1990-91), contributing 3.8 ppg and 2.3 rpg as a reserve. The following season she moved into the starting lineup and added 5.8 ppg and 3.1 rpg as the Herons went 24-4 and earned the program’s first NCAA berth. As a senior starter, she led the Herons to a program record 25 wins against just three losses, chipping in 4.5 ppg and 3.8 rpg. William Smith won the EAA, was second in the NYSWCAA Tournament, and returned to the NCAA tournament.
Shirtz Howe was named the 1993-94 Empire Athletic Association Female Athlete of the Year in a team sport. She was the EAA Women’s Soccer Player of the Year after leading the conference in both goals (14) and points (29). Nationally, the NSCAA recognized her efforts with first team All-American status as well as Adidas Scholar All-American honors.
A standout in the classroom as well, Shirtz Howe earned a long list of scholarships and academic awards from William Smith. She helped the soccer team earn the Dean’s Award in 1993. Shirtz Howe graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She went on to earn her medical degree from SUNY Buffalo Medical School in 2000.
Since 1996, Shirtz Howe has served in the U.S. Air Force, including eight years on active duty, and plans to retire from the military next month. She practices family and sports medicine in Portland, Maine, and also serves as the head physician for the U.S. Women’s Hockey National Team.
A native of nearby Batavia, N.Y., Shirtz Howe was inducted into the Batavia Blue Devils Hall of Fame in 2014.
