Three members of the William Smith soccer team were named to the 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-Region III team today. Midfielder Ruth Hotaling and defender Marjorie Plants were named to the first team. Midfielder Ireland Krawczyk earned a spot on the second team.
 
Plants and Krawczyk play key roles in a defensive unit that is one of the best in the country. The Herons are 34th in the nation in GAA (0.60). William Smith has posted 13 shutouts this season, including in each of the last two NCAA tournament games. Plants, Krawczyk and the entire Herons' defense have done a tremendous job limiting opponents' shots. Only five teams have hit double digits in shots against the Herons in 22 games. None of their opponents have had 10 or more shots on goal this season.
 
Plants, the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year, has started all 23 games this season. An outside back, she plays a key role on both ends of the field. Plants is tied for the team lead with six goals and is second with 13 points. She has three game-winning goals this season, including in William Smith's victory over No. 9 Washington and Lee in the third round of the NCAA tournament. Plants' assist this season set up the game-winning goal against Messiah.
 
Plants has played in 74 career games, recording 25 points on 11 goals and three assists. She is a two-time All-Liberty League first team selection.
 
A first team All-Liberty League pick, Hotaling has started all 23 games this season. She leads the Herons with 23 points on six goals and 11 assists. Hotaling also has three game-winning goals. She scored both goals in William Smith's 2-1 win over Union. Hotaling has points in three of the Herons' four NCAA tournament games, recording a goal and two assists. Her 11 assists this year are tied for sixth on William Smith's single-season list.
 
A three-year starter, Hotaling has 51 points on 14 goals and 23 assists. She is tied for ninth on the Herons' career assists list.
 
Krawczyk is a second team All-Liberty League selection. She has started all 23 games this season, notching an assist against Clarkson. Krawczyk has played both midfield and defense this year.
 
A four-year starter, Krawczyk has played in 84 career games. She has four assists. Krawczyk was also a second team All-Region selection in 2022 and the Liberty League Rookie of the Year in 2021.
 
William Smith is 16-3-4 overall entering this weekend's national semifinals. The Herons are unbeaten in their last 13 games, posting a 12-0-1 record during that stretch. William Smith will face 22nd-ranked Emory on Friday, Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. (6 p.m. PT).