October 20, 2005

Pria Young	Alex Rieben
Laura Burnett-Kurie	Nikki Dudley
Steph Gridley	Seraphine Hamilton
Leigh Williamson	Ashley Kent
Jamie Stevens

GENEVA, N.Y.—Nine members of the William Smith College soccer team earned a place on the Liberty League Women’s Soccer All-Academic team this season. Sophomore Laura Burnett-Kurie (Oyster River/Durham, N.H.), junior Nikki Dudley (Chittenango/Chittenango, N.Y.), senior Steph Gridley (Auburn/Auburn, N.Y.), senior Seraphine Hamilton (Peddie School/Trenton, N.J.), junior Ashley Kent (Westfield/Westfield, N.J.), junior Alex Rieben (Guilford/Guilford, Conn.), sophomore Jamie Stevens (Dryden/Dryden, N.Y.), sophomore Leigh Williamson (Arlington/Poughkepsie, N.Y.), and senior Pria Young (Council Rock/Richboro, Pa.) represented the Herons based on their academic and athletic excellence.

A starter in all 12 games this season, Burnett-Kurie leads the conference in points (27), goals (12), and points per game (2.25). She also is tied for second on the team in assists (3). On Sept. 24, Burnett-Kurie’s eight-point effort tied the William Smith single game records for points and goals (4). She has received Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week honors five times this year. Burnett-Kurie is majoring in psychology.

Dudley has turned in an impressive season in net for William Smith. She boasts a record of 11-0-1, including a Division III leading 11 shutouts and a .970 save percentage. The five-time conference Defensive Performer of the Week sports a miniscule (0.08) goals against average. Dudley is an environmental studies major.

Gridley, a midfielder, is currently tied for second in points (7) and assists (3). On Sept. 23, she registered a season-high three points, on a goal and an assist, during a 2-0 victory over conference foe St. Lawrence. She is majoring in psychology.

Hamilton has started all 12 games on defense. Under her leadership, William Smith has surrendered only one goal this season. She registered a helper during a 3-0 win over conference rival Hamilton. She is a double major in Africana studies and English.

Kent, who has started 10 games this season, solidifies the wing position on the Heron’s stifling defense. William Smith was the last NCAA soccer team, men or women, to relinquish a goal this season. She is a media and society major.

A starter in the midfield, Rieben netted the decisive goal in back-to-back conference games against Clarkson and St. Lawrence. She is currently third in points (7) and goals (3). Rieben is majoring in English.

A versatile athlete, Stevens has contributed to the Herons’ success as a striker and on defense. She registered an assist during the season-opening win over Keuka. Stevens is an economics major.

A starter on defense, Williamson provides the Herons’ with speed in transition. Williamson and her backline mates have allowed opponents just 71 shots this season, an average of 5.92 offerings per game.

In her 12 starts this season, Young has played a pivotal role in both the offense and defense. Offensively, she is utilized on corner kicks, where she has registered a pair of assists. A mainstay on defense for four seasons, Young organizes and mobilizes the backline. She was selected as the Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week for her efforts during the week ending Sept. 25. Young is double majoring in chemistry and English.

Student athletes from the Liberty League earned a place on the team based on the following criteria: at least a sophomore academic standing and a minimum 3.2 cumulative grade point average.

William Smith (11-0-1, 4-0-1 Liberty League) is ranked fifth in the nation. The Herons return to action at 4 p.m. on Oct. 21, when they travel to Vassar (3-6-1, 2-2-0).

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