December 8, 2005

Laura Burnett-Kurie	Seraphine Hamilton
Nikki Dudley	Pria Young
Alex Rieben	Steph Gridley

GENEVA, N.Y.—Six players on the William Smith College soccer team were selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III Women’s All-Northeast Team. Sophomore striker Laura Burnett-Kurie (Oyster River/Durham, N.H.), junior goalkeeper Nikki Dudley (Chittenango/Chittenango, N.Y.), and senior defender Seraphine Hamilton (The Peddie School/Trenton, N.J.) represented the Herons on the first-team.
Senior defender Pria Young (Council Rock/Richboro, Pa.) earned second-team praise, while senior midfielder Steph Gridley (Auburn/Auburn, N.Y.) and junior midfielder Alex Rieben (Guilford/Guilford, Conn.) garnered third-team recognition.

Making her second straight appearance on the All-Region team, Burnett-Kurie led the Liberty League in points (41), goals (18), points per game (2.28), and game-winning goals (7). Her points and goals totals are the third highest in Heron history. A first-team All-Liberty League selection, Burnett-Kurie’s eight-point performance against Clarkson tied the William Smith single-game records for points and goals (4). She was twice named the ECAC Upstate Offensive Player of the Week and the Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week six times. Burnett-Kurie is a 2005 ESPN The Magazine third-team Academic All-American and a Liberty League All-Academic honoree. She boasts 24 career goals and eight career assists for 56 points.

A two-time All-Region selection, Dudley ranked third in the nation in goals against average (0.22) and save percentage (.942). The 2005 All-Liberty League first-team pick led the conference with a William Smith record 15 solo shutouts. On Oct. 8, Dudley made a season-high 11 saves during a 1-1 draw against Union. She was named the Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week seven times. Dudley has started 59 consecutive games, posting a 0.49 goals against average, an .891 save percentage, a 42-10-6 record, and 37 career shutouts. She was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District second-team and the Liberty League All-Academic Team.

Hamilton, who makes her third consecutive appearance on the All-Region first team, is already highly decorated. She was named the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year, the Liberty League Player of the Year, first-team All-State, and first-team All-Liberty League. She anchored a Heron back line that tied the William Smith season goals allowed record (4). On Oct. 26, Hamilton netted her only goal of the season on a penalty kick to lead the Herons to a 4-0 win at SUNY Cortland. The 2004 NSCAA third-team All-American sports two career goals and six career assists for 10 points.

A two-time All-Region pick, Young led William Smith in assists (6). She registered one helper in four straight matches, spanning Oct. 21 to Nov. 4. Young was selected to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District second-team and the Liberty League All-Academic Team. In 84 career games, she amassed 22 points on one goal and 20 helpers. Young is tied for seventh on the Heron career assists list.

Making her second appearance on the All-Region team, Gridley was tied for second on the team in assists (5) and third in points (13). On Sept. 23, she turned in a season-high three-point performance (1-1) to lift the Herons to a 2-0 victory over St. Lawrence. The 2005 Liberty League All-Academic Team member has registered 16 career goals and 17 career assists for 49 points.

Rieben, a three-year starter, earned All-Region recognition for the first time this season. She completed the campaign second on the team in goals (6) and third in points (13). The 2005 All-State pick netted the game-winning goal in back-to-back conference wins against Clarkson and St. Lawrence. In 59 career games, Rieben boast 14 career goals and four career assists for 32 points.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Aliceann Wilber, William Smith went 15-2-1 this season, the program’s best mark since the 2001 team went 17-2-1. It’s the Herons 22nd consecutive winning season and ninth with at least 13 wins.

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