William Smith junior defender Janey Sypeck earned Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year honors Tuesday after helping guide the fifth-ranked William Smith Herons (17-2) to one of the nation’s top defensive seasons, while seven teammates also received all-conference recognition following a vote by the league’s coaches.
William Smith led the conference with eight selections, including five first-team honorees. Sypeck was joined on the first team by junior attacker Mia Falco, junior midfielders Grace Rund and Katie Grottenthaler, and graduate student goalie Casey Fiore. Seniors Delaney Cassidy and Caitie Baker earned second-team honors, while first-year attacker Cat Colvin landed on the third team.
Sypeck anchored a defense allowing just 6.79 goals per game, a mark that ranks first in the Liberty League and 21st nationally. The junior caused 44 turnovers and collected 41 ground balls this season while averaging a league-best 2.59 caused turnovers per game. She recorded four or more caused turnovers six times, including a standout effort against then-No. 6 Washington and Lee.
Scattered showers hold on Thursday before drier, warmer weather returns to the Finger Lakes Fiore posted a 17-2 record in goal with a 6.86 goals-against average and a .473 save percentage, while Rund dominated the draw circle with a team-best 105 draw controls. Falco paced the offense with 55 points and 29 assists, Grottenthaler scored 35 goals in her first season with the Herons, and Colvin finished a stellar rookie campaign with 50 points.
William Smith opens NCAA Tournament play Sunday, May 10, at 1 p.m. on Boswell Field at David J. Urick Stadium against either Williams or Grove City.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.