Aliceann Wilber

Kristin Falzarano

Leah Cornwell

December 5, 2002

GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College soccer team continues to collect in postseason awards, garnering the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year honors, as well as five spots on the All-State team.

Senior goalie Leah Cornwell (Wheatland-Chili/Scottsville, N.Y.) was voted by the NYSWCAA coaches as the Defensive Player of the Year, while senior midfielder Kristin Falzarano (Morristown/Morris Plains, N.J.) earned Offensive Player of the Year, and Head Coach Aliceann Wilber was named Coach of the Year. Seniors Maria Paoff (East Syracuse Minoa/East Syracuse, N.Y.), Amy Pendergast (East Syracuse Minoa/East Syracuse, N.Y.) and Alyson Stachura (Pittsford Sutherland/Pittsford, N.Y.) also earned spots on the All-State squad.

A three-time first-team All-Region honoree, Cornwell started in 23 of the 24 games this season boasting a 0.66 goals against average including nine shutouts. A mainstay in the net for the last four seasons, Cornwell compiled a record of 61-13-12 for a .779 winning percentage, while leading William Smith to three NCAA Quarterfinals and the semifinal round in 2002. Giving up just 55 goals in 87 games, the senior netminder sports a 0.61 career goals against average.

Recently named a first-team All-Region player, Falzarano provided a spark to the Heron offense from her outside midfield position. The 2002 UCAA Player of the Year, was third on the team in points with seven goals and six assists, including three game-winning scores.

In her 23rd year at the helm of the William Smith soccer program, Wilber became the first female soccer coach to record 300 career victories when the Herons defeated Cortland 1-0 in overtime. Since beginning the program in 1980, she has guided William Smith to the NCAA Semifinals six times, winning the national championship in 1988. Sporting a career record of 304-95-28, she has guided the Herons to a record 16 straight NCAA Tournaments as well as 19 consecutive winning seasons.

A 2002 second-team All-UCAA selection, Paoff was second on the team in scoring with nine goals and four assists. She helped send William Smith to the NCAA Semifinals by knocking home the game-winning penalty kick in the shootout victory over Wheaton College (Mass.).

An All-Region first team honoree, Pendergast was the leader of a young backline that allowed just 16 goals in 24 games, including 12 shutouts. Stepping up their play throughout the season, the senior defender led the Heron defense to a blanking of a powerful Wheaton offense to put William Smith through to the NCAA Semifinals.

The team’s leading scorer and a first-team All-Region member, Stachura paced the Heron offense with 11 goals this season, two of which were game-winners. Also voted first-team All-UCAA, the senior striker was the lone Heron on the NCAA All-Tournament team.

William Smith finished with a 17-4-3 record earning its third consecutive New York Region Championship and reaching the NCAA Semifinals. Making its sixth appearance in the round of four, William Smith fell to eventual national champion Ohio Wesleyan 3-0.

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