KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The William Smith soccer team will begin the 2025 season ranked second in the United Soccer Coaches poll. This is the 17th consecutive season the Herons have been ranked in the coaches association preseason poll and the ninth time in the last 10 that they have been ranked in the top 10.
 
William Smith is coming off a 17-4-4 season that saw them advance to the national championship game. It was the Heron's 34th NCAA tournament appearance and sixth trip to the title game. The Herons' 17 wins were tied for 10th on William Smith's single-season list.
 
The Herons return 16 players from last year's squad, including All-American midfielder Ruth Hotaling. She led the Herons with six goals, 12 assists and 24 points in 2024. Sophomore Nell Dwyer, who started all 25 games on defense during her rookie season, had three game-winning goals in the NCAA tournament run. She was named the Liberty League Rookie of the Week six times.
 
William Smith's 2025 slate features two teams ranked in the preseason poll. The Herons will play at No. 8 Messiah on Sept. 13 and host No. 20 Rochester on Sept. 20.
 
William Smith will kick off the season under new head coach Laura Burnett-Kurie '08 on August 29, when it heads to Center Valley, Pennsylvania, to take on DeSales. Burnett-Kurie returns to Cozzens Field on August 31, when the Herons host New Paltz.