COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Thirteen members of the William Smith field hockey team were named to the 2025 NFHCA National Academic Squad, sponsored by OPA Winning Teams. The Herons join more than 1,800 outstanding student-athletes representing 147 institutions across NCAA Division III that were honored for their dedication to both their academics and on-field play during the fall semester.
To qualify for the distinction, student-athletes must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher through the 2025 fall semester.
The following Herons were named to this year's squad:
- Mia Batchelder, sophomore forward, Business Management and Entrepreneurship
- Ana Dios Vidal, sophomore midfielder, Economics
- Lily Gutch, senior midfielder, Business Management and Entrepreneurship
- Abby Jones, senior forward, Business Management and Entrepreneurship & Media and Society
- Kylee Knuschke, junior midfielder, Biology
- Caroline Lemos, first-year midfielder, Architectural Studies
- Grace McCormick, sophomore midfielder, Psychology
- Elle Oberfield, junior defender, Writing & Rhetoric
- Anneliese Oetsen, senior forward, International Relations & Media and Society
- Zoe Ugarteche, senior midfielder, Architectural Studies
- Ava Vecchione, junior defender, Business Management and Entrepreneurship
- Sophia Weene, sophomore midfielder, Business Management and Entrepreneurship & Media and Society
- Delaney Williams, senior defender, Biology
Jones, Oetsen and Williams were named to the National Academic Squad in each of their four years as Herons. Knuschke, Oberfield, and Ugarteche are all three-time recipients.
The NFHCA will reveal its 2025 Scholars of Distinction on Feb. 13 and the National Academic Team Award on Feb. 17.
William Smith concluded its season with a 12-9 overall record (4-3 Liberty League). The Herons finished fourth in the league standings, qualifying for the conference championship tournament for the fourth straight season. William Smith defeated fifth-seeded Rochester 1-0 in overtime in the opening round of the Liberty League Tournament, advancing to the semifinals where it fell 2-1 to top-seeded Vassar.
