William Smith first-year midfielder Grace Sudbay was named the Liberty League Women's Soccer Rookie of the Year by the conference office today. She was joined on the all-conference teams by seven of her teammates. The awards were decided by a vote of the league's coaches.
 
Three juniors, forward Grace Metzler, midfielder Kristin Middaugh, and defender Hannah Goodness, were named to the first team. Sudbay was joined on the second team by junior forward Aleena Solano.  Seniors, midfielder Miranda DeMura, defender Izzy Thors and goalie Antonia Goerke, were voted to the third team.
 
Sudbay is the ninth Heron to be named the league's top rookie and the first since 2021, when Ireland Krawczyk '25 took home the award. The Merrimack, Massachusetts, native has played in all 18 games this season, starting 17. Sudbay is fourth on the team with 10 points on four goals and two assists. She recorded her first collegiate point, an assist in her collegiate debut. Sudbay scored her first collegiate goal in the Herons' 2-1 win over Carnegie Mellon. She has two game-winning goals this season and was named the rookie of the week three times.
 
Goodness, DeMura, Thors and Goerke play key roles in William Smith's defensive unit. The Herons enter the NCAA tournament 45th in the nation in GAA (0.611) and 60th in shutout percentage (.556). William Smith has posted 10 shutouts this season. Eleven of the Herons' opponents have been limited to single digits in shots, and only two opponents have hit double digits in shots on goal.
 
Goodness has started all 18 games at center back, quarterbacking the Herons' defense. She is normally one of the last starters on the field. A two-year starter, Goodness earned first team All-Liberty League recognition for the second straight year. She has played in 50 career games.
 
 
A defensive midfielder, DeMura has started 17 games this season. She has five points on two goals and an assist. DeMura scored the game-winning goals in William Smith's wins over St. Lawrence and Geneseo. She is a strong two-way player for the Herons. DeMura has played in 37 career games, producing seven points on three goals and an assist.
 
 
An outside back, Thors has started 17 games this season. A threat on the wing, she plays a key role in William Smith's transition from defense to offense. On the offensive end of the field, Thors has two assists this season. She is a two-year starter, playing in 63 career games. Thors has 12 career points on four goals and four assists.
 
 

Goerke has started 17 games in goal. She is 13-4-0 with a 0.71 GAA and an .845 save percentage. Goerke has six shutouts this season.  She is third in the Liberty League in GAA and fourth in save percentage.  Goerke made a season-high nine saves in the win over Carnegie Mellon. She had eight saves against Rochester.
 
Goerke is a two-year starter in goal. She is 24-7-3 with a 0.75 GAA and an .853 save percentage. Goerke has 14 career shutouts.
 

A forward, Metzler has played in 16 games, starting 15. She leads the Herons with five assists and 19 points. Metzler is second on the team with seven goals. She scored twice in William Smith's 3-1 victory over Ithaca in the regular season, starting a nine-game point streak for Metzler. She scored the game-winning goal in wins over RIT and Union. In the Liberty League Semifinals, Metzler had a goal and an assist. 
 
Metzler has played in 47 career games. She has 30 points on 10 goals and 10 assists.
 
 
A transfer from Division I Providence, Middaugh has been a strong presence in the midfield. She has played in 16 games, recording 18 points, including a team-high eight goals. Middaugh enters the NCAA tournament scoring in three straight games. In the Liberty League Semifinals, she recorded a goal and an assist against Ithaca. Middaugh had the Herons' game-winning goals against Ithaca and Clarkson.
 
 
A forward, Solano has played in all 18 games this season, starting 14. She is third on the team with 10 points on three goals and four assists. Solano recorded three points on a goal and an assist in the regular season finale against RPI. She enters the NCAA tournament with points in three straight games after assisting on goals in both the Liberty League semifinal and championship games. Solano is a transfer from Emmanuel.
 
 
The Herons (14-4-0) earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and will host a first round game against Cortland on Saturday, Nov. 14. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.
 
Tickets are $15 for general admission and $5 for students/seniors; children 3 and under are free. HWS students, faculty and staff will be admitted free with a valid HWS ID courtesy of HWS Athletics.