William Smith College first-year defender Rebecca Begley was named to the ECAC Women’s West All-Rookie Team by a vote of the conference coaches.
Begley led all Heron defenders this season recording eight points on two goals and six assists. Her first collegiate point came on Nov. 16 when she collected an assist. In the next game, Begley was credited with an assist on Catherine Linehan’s game-winning overtime goal. The victory was William Smith’s first as a varsity program. Begley notched her first collegiate goal on Jan. 9 against Franklin Pierce. She was named to the ECAC Women’s West honor roll this past week, following a three-point performance in the weekend series against Cortland. In Saturday night’s game, she set up Kiley Fewster’s third period goal. The next night she recorded a goal and an assist for the Herons. Begley set up Rachel McKay’s game-winner in the first period and then collected a goal of her own to put William Smith up 4-0 at 9:47 of the third period. Begley finished the season with at least a point in three of the Herons final four games.
Begley’s eight points (0.32 points per game) ranked 16th among all blue liners in the ECAC West and tied her for second among rookie defenders in the ECAC. She finished tied for 21st in the conference in first-year scoring.
William Smith finished its inaugural season with a 3-20-1 overall record but played its best hockey down the stretch against some of the nation’s top teams. In both games against No. 1 Elmira, the Herons were within one goal during the third period, and against No. 9 Oswego, William Smith was tied heading into the third period. In the season finale, the Herons blanked Cortland, the sixth seed in the conference tournament, 4-0.
