Kristin Falzarano '03

Aliceann Wilber

November 8, 2002

GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College soccer team earned nine postseason awards from the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association this afternoon, including Player and Coach of the Year. Senior midfielder Kristin Falzarano (Morris Plains/Morristown, N.J.) was named Conference Player of the Year and Head Coach Aliceann Wilber garnered Coach of the Year honors for the fourth consecutive year.

Joining Falzarano on the first team was senior forward Alyson Stachura (Pittsford-Sutherland/Pittsford, N.Y.), junior midfielder Arin Belden (Warsaw/Warsaw, N.Y.), senior defender Amy Pendergast (East Syracuse-Minoa/East Syracuse, N.Y.), and senior goalie Leah Cornwell (Wheatland-Chili/Scottsville, N.Y.). Senior forward Maria Paoff (East Syracuse-Minoa/East Syracuse, N.Y.) and first-year midfielder Stephanie Gridley (Auburn/Auburn, N.Y.) were named to the second team.

A two-time first-team selection, Falzarano led a young William Smith squad to a 13-2-3 regular season record. Second on the team in points with six goals and five assists, the veteran provided a spark to the Heron offense with her skill and composure on the flank.

In her 23rd year as the helm, Wilber did something no other female coach has ever done. Beating Cortland 1-0 in overtime, Wilber earned her 300th career victory, the first woman in college soccer to do so. She has guided William Smith to a record-setting 15 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as 19 consecutive winning seasons.

The 2000 Rookie of the Year and two-time member of the first-team, Stachura paced the Heron offense with 10 goals and two assists. Scoring only two goals in the first 12 games of the season, Stachura came alive scoring five goals in the next two games.

Belden’s presence had an immediate impact in the middle of the field for William Smith this season. A junior transfer, Belden was third on the team in scoring with six goals and four assists. Three of her six goals were game winners.

Pendergast anchored a young Heron defense that allowed just 11 goals in 18 games, 0.61 per game. A four-year starter, Pendergast was also recently named to the Verizon Academic All-District I second team.

The MVP of the Gettysburg Women’s Soccer Classic, Cornwell closed out her stellar career, garnering first-team honors for the third straight year. Registering seven shutouts, the most in the conference, Cornwell allowed only 11 goals for a 0.62 goals against average.

Joining Stachura up front, Paoff was a strong contributor for the Herons this season. Her six goals and three assists were fourth on the team.

A UCAA Rookie of the Week honoree, Gridley made a smooth transition from attacker to midfielder part way through the season. She contributed five goals and two assists to the William Smith offense, including a hat trick against Oswego.

The Herons will attempt to qualify for their 16th straight NCAA Tournament this weekend at the UCAA Championship. William Smith kicks off against St. Lawrence at Union on Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. The winner advances to the championship match on Nov. 10, at 1 p.m.

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