November 14, 2006

Sophie Dennis

Liz Saucier

Skylar Beaver

Brooke Atwood

Kaitlyn Hamilton

GENEVA, N.Y.—Five William Smith College student-athletes were named to the 2006 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-North Atlantic Region teams.

Senior forward Sophie Dennis (Dana L. West/Port Byron, N.Y.), senior midfielder Liz Saucier (Old Town/Old Town, Maine), and junior back Skylar Beaver (Williamsville North/Williamsville, N.Y.) earned first-team honors, while senior midfielder Brooke Atwood (Marathon/Marathon, N.Y.) and first-year forward Kaitlyn Hamilton (Harpursville/Harpursville, N.Y.) garnered second-team accolades.

A four-time All-Region selection, Dennis will graduate with the William Smith records for career goals (89), career assists (39), single season points (70), and career points (217). She led the Liberty League this season in goals (28) and points and trailed only Saucier in assists (14). Dennis’ 70 points are three more than the previous record set by Kimberly O’Gorman ’88 in 1987. The two-time Liberty League Player of the Year ranks among the top-10 in Division III scoring history.

Moving up to the first team after grabbing second-team honors in 2005, Saucier broke the William Smith single season record for assists with 17 this season, five more than she had in her first three seasons combined. The previous mark was 15 set by Nicky Livingston ’01 in 2000. A three-time All-Liberty League pick, Saucier scored eight goals to go with her record-breaking assist total for a career-high 33 points, the second highest total on the team and third highest in the conference.

Also moving up from the second team a year ago, Beaver is the sweeper back on the Herons’ stingy defensive unit that allowed a league-low 8.32 shots per game and ranked second in goals against average (1.26) and shots on goal allowed per game (3.45). In conference play, William Smith yielded just five goals, a conference best 0.71 goals against average. Beaver was second on the team and tied for third in the Liberty League with three defensive saves. Now in her second season as a starter, the two-time All-Liberty League pick has seven career defensive saves, tied for the most since 1999 (the first season the statistic was regularly reflected in the season stats).

The Liberty League Rookie of the Year, Hamilton was tied for second on the team in goals (13), fourth on the team in assists (6), and third in points (32). She broke the William Smith single game record for points and tied the single game record for goals with a four-goal, one-assist outburst at Nazareth on Oct. 27. The old record for points was eight shared by several players, including Dennis. Hamilton earned Liberty League weekly honors three times this season.

A three-time All-Liberty League selection, Atwood is making her first appearance on the All-Region team. She notched career-highs in goals (8), assists (8), and points (24) this season. She was second on the team behind Dennis in game-winning goals with four and also registered a defensive save. The three-year starter compiled 18 career goals and 19 career assists for 55 career points.

William Smith finished the season with an 18-4 overall record, the program’s 22nd consecutive winning season. The Herons captured their fourth consecutive Liberty League regular season crown and third straight Liberty League tournament title, earning a third straight NCAA Tournament bid. William Smith reached the NCAA quarterfinal round for the second straight year and 15th time overall.

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