William Smith College senior defender Rebecca Begley was named to the D3hockey.com National Team of the Week today. The Herons also received national recognition, receiving votes for the second straight week in the D3hockey.com poll.
Begley had three points on a goal and two assists in a 2-0-0 weekend for the Herons against King’s College. She was a team best +6 on the weekend. On Saturday, she picked up a pair of assists. The next day she pocketed her sixth goal of the season, forcing a turnover below the goal line and stuffing the puck inside the left goal post. On the defensive end of the ice, Begley keyed William Smith to its fifth and sixth shutouts of the season. The Herons, who are in their fourth season, had four shutouts in their first three seasons combined.
A solid puck moving defenseman, Begley is fourth on the team with 19 points (6g, 13a) through 24 games. She is tied for second in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference in points by a defenseman, fourth in power play points (11), and 12th in assists. Begley is tied for 13th in the nation in points per game (0.79).
Saturday will be Begley’s 100th career game as a Heron. The three-year captain has 19 goals, 33 assists and 52 points in her career. She has a program record three short-handed goals and is second all-time in points and assists.
This is the fifth time this season that a Heron has been placed on the D3hockey.com Team of the Week. Senior Krista Federow earned the honor two weeks ago while first-years Lexi Nottke and Emily Martino and sophomore Gina Scibetta were named to the Team of the Week in November.
For the second straight week and third time this season, William Smith is receiving votes in the D3hockey.com Women’s Poll. The Herons, who wrap up their regular season on Saturday, are 15-5-4 overall and 11-2-3 in the UCHC. William Smith wrapped up the No. 2 seed and a first round-bye in the conference tournament last weekend with the wins over the Lady Monarchs. It will be the Herons’ first postseason appearance in program history.
Year four has been a record-breaking season for the Herons. William Smith has a program record 264 points on 100 goals and 164 assists. The Herons are seventh in the nation in scoring offense (4.17 gpg) and are one of just seven teams to hit the 100-goal plateau this season. William Smith’s 15 wins are the most in program history and its 11 conference wins are more than its first three seasons combined. The Herons have also been solid on the defensive end of the ice this season. They are ninth in the nation in scoring defense (1.46 gpg) and have allowed just 35 goals this season.
William Smith will conclude its regular season on Saturday, Feb. 17, when it travels to Cortland, N.Y., for a non-conference game. The game will be the Herons’ 100th varsity game.
