William Smith first-year defender Caroline Kogut was named the 2024 Liberty League Field Hockey Co-Rookie of the Year, the conference office announced today. She is the first Heron to be named the conference's top rookie since Hannah Wood '18 won the award in 2014. Additionally, William Smith had four players voted to the all-conference teams by the league's coaches.

Along with being named the Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Year, Kogut was elected to the first team. Senior defender Hannah Huston was named to the second team, while junior forward Abby Jones and first-year midfielder Ana Dios Vidal were named honorable mention selections.

Kogut, Huston, Jones and Dios Vidal all played major roles in a young Heron squad that finished the season 9-10 overall and clinched a spot in the Liberty League Tournament for the third-straight season. William Smith went 4-3 in conference play, securing the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. The Herons fell 1-0 to fifth-seeded Skidmore in the first round to close out the season.

The first-year defender from Glenville, New York, Kogut was named the co-rookie of the year after leading the Herons on both sides of the ball. She started all 19 games for William Smith and led the team with 27 points on 12 goals and three assists. Kogut also led the team defensively and tallied four defensive saves on the season. She tallied at least one point in eight of the last 10 games for the Herons, including a goal in seven of them. In conference play, Kogut scored six goals and recorded two assists to lead the team to a postseason. She was named the conference's rookie of the week three times and landed on the weekly honor roll once

Kogut's dominating season landed her among the conference's best in several statistical categories. She ranks fourth in the Liberty League in defensive saves (0.21/g), fifth in goals (0.6/g) and points (1.33 per game). Kogut also ranks seventh in the conference in shots (3.0/g) and ninth in shots on goal (1.68/g). She played a huge role in both William Smith's offensive and defensive penalty corner units and played a part in 36% of the Herons' goals this season from the center back position.

Huston was named to the second team after a strong senior season that saw her record 18 points on six goals and six assists. She tallied three game-winning goals this season, including the decisive goal at No. 19 Ithaca in the regular season. In conference play, Huston recorded 10 points on three goals and four assists. She started in all 19 games and ranks sixth in the Liberty League in assists (0.3/g) and seventh in game-winning goals (0.2/g). Huston was named the Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week on Oct. 6 and landed on the weekly honor roll four times.

In her four seasons at William Smith, the senior midfielder from Bowdoin, Maine, has played in 56 games, starting 48. She recorded 31 points on 10 goals and 11 assists, including five game-winning goals.

Jones earned her first all-conference recognition after leading Heron forwards with 13 points on five goals and three assists. She tallied the game-winning goal at RPI to clinch a spot in the Liberty League Tournament. Jones played in 19 games this season, starting 15 and was named to the Liberty League Weekly Honor Roll on Oct. 13 after tallying three points on a goal and an assist in a conference weekend.

In three seasons at William Smith, the junior forward from Nantucket, Massachusetts, has played in 33 games, starting 15. She has recorded 13 points on five goals and three assists.

Dios Vidal was named an All-Liberty League honorable mention selection after a strong rookie season that saw her record four points on a goal and two assists. Her first collegiate goal came in a 4-3 win over St. Lawrence on Oct. 20. Dios Vidal played a key role in both offensive and defensive penalty corner units for the Herons and was a key contributor in the midfield for William Smith.

The first-year midfielder from Madrid, Spain, saw action in 18 games in her rookie season. Dios Vidal started 12 games for the Herons, including seven straight to close out the season.