Patrizio headline Heron All-Liberty League selections

William Smith College senior back Margaret McConnell was voted the Liberty League Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Year and first-year forward Alessandra Patrizio was voted the Liberty League Rookie of the Year the conference office announced this morning. They are two of the six Herons honored in a vote of the league’s head coaches.

McConnell was joined on the All-Liberty League first team by senior forward Taylor Cappello and senior midfielder Melanie O’Connor. Patrizio garnered second team recognition as did junior midfielder Caitlin Moran and senior back Morgan Atanasio.

Against a challenging schedule that included seven nationally ranked opponents, McConnell and the Heron defense allowed the second fewest goals in the league (30 in 19 matches). McConnell started all 19 matches this season, producing eight goals and five assists for 21 points. She also notched two of William Smith’s three defensive saves this year and both came in one-goal games. McConnell scored a career-high four points against three opponents this season: Oswego, Manhattanville, and Nazareth. She was named the Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week three times this season.

Over the past four seasons, McConnell appeared in 78 matches, recording 24 goals and 10 assists for 58 points. She earned second team All-Liberty League recognition last season and is a two-time Liberty League All-Tournament selection.

Patrizio played in 17 matches, starting six. She finished tied with McConnell and O’Connor for third on the team with 21 points. Patrizio logged nine goals and assisted on three. She closed the regular season on a six-match points streak, scoring goals in each of the last four matches. Patrizio earned the Liberty League Rookie of the Week award three times.

Cappello is a three-time all-league selection, previously garnering second team recognition in 2011 and 2012. A starter in all 19 matches, she led the team in goals (14), assists (8), and points (36). Cappello logged a season-high seven points in her final regular season appearance on McCooey Field, scoring three goals and assisting on a fourth against Nazareth. She was named the league’s Offensive Performer of the Week twice.

Cappello is one of only five Herons to reach the 50 career goals plateau. She ranks fifth all-time with 51. With 15 career assists, Cappello has 117 career points, eighth on the all-time list.

A four-time first team selection, O’Connor started 14 of the 15 matches she played in, registering seven goals and seven assists. She opened the year with a career-high six points on two goals and two assists against Oswego. O’Connor missed four games in the middle of the season due to injury, but returned to the lineup and scored a key goal in the Herons’ 4-3 overtime win at Messiah.

O’Connor produced 29 goals and 23 assists in 75 career games. She is tied for 11th in career assists, one helper away from a spot in the top 10. O’Connor is a three-time NFHCA All-Region selection and a 2012 NFHCA second team All-American.

Moran is a two-year starter, playing in every match this season. She logged three goals, including the game winners against Ithaca and St. Lawrence, and added three assists. An honorable mention all-league pick a year ago, Moran has six goals and eight assists in 56 career matches.

Atanasio also started every match this year. She scored the game-winning goal against Geneseo and added a pair of assists against Nazareth and two more at Messiah. Atanasio had a defensive save in a one-goal win over Manhattanville.

In 78 career matches, Atanasio has three goals and nine assists for 15 points as well as five defensive saves.

William Smith finished the regular season with a 15-4 overall record. The Herons went 4-2 in conference play, tying for second in the standings. William Smith was the runner-up in the Liberty League Tournament, falling to Skidmore 4-3.

The Herons received an at-large bid into the 24-team NCAA Championship and will host SUNYAC Champion, New Paltz, in the first round at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at McCooey Field. Ticket prices are $5 for general admission, $3 for students, senior citizens, and military personnel with a valid ID, and children ages 3-12. Children under 3 are admitted free of charge.