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Five Herons named All-State
December 6, 2006
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Ashley Kent |
Nikki Dudley |
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Ali Art |
Alex Rieben |
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Laura Burnett-Kurie |
GENEVA, N.Y.—Five William Smith College soccer players were recently named to the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) All-State Team. Senior goalkeeper Nikki Dudley (Chittenango/Chittenango, N.Y.), senior defender Ashley Kent (Westfield/Westfield, N.J.), sophomore defender Ali Art (Herricks/Manhasset Hills, N.Y.), senior midfielder Alex Rieben (Guilford/Guilford, Conn.), and junior forward Laura Burnett-Kurie (Oyster River/Durham, N.H.) were honored after leading the Herons to an ECAC Upstate Championship and an 11-6-3 overall record. All five also were named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team.
A four-time All-State and Liberty League selection, Dudley closed out her career as the all-time William Smith leader in career shutouts (46), and holds the second spot in career wins (53), and career saves (297). This season, she tallied nine shutouts and posted a 0.49 goals against average. Dudley also was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team for the second year in a row, and was recently tabbed All-Region by D3Kicks.com and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
Two of the top backs in the state, Kent and Art led a Heron defense that recorded 12 shutouts and yielded just 10 goals all season (0.48 GAA), including a scant two in league play. Kent earned the league’s Defensive Performer of the Week once this season, and ends her career after playing in 64 career games. Art started all 20 games and tallied her first career goal this season after spending her rookie season sidelined by an injury. Both were selected All-Liberty League earlier this fall.
Rieben netted four goals this fall, three of which were game-winners. She supplied the Herons with a strong leadership presence in the midfield all season. A two-time All-State and Liberty League first team pick, Rieben finished her career with 18 goals and four assists.
The Liberty League Player of the Year, this is the third straight year Burnett-Kurie has been honored by the NYSWCAA. She led the league in goals (11) and points (25) this season and was named an All-American by D3Kicks.com. Burnett-Kurie, also a three-time All-Liberty League selection, earned NSCAA All-Region honors this season and was also named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team for the second consecutive year.