William Smith senior midfielder Ruth Hotaling (Bethlehem/Delmar, N.Y.) has been named to the 2025 Division III Women’s Soccer Academic All-America® third team, as selected by College Sports Communicators. She is the first Heron soccer player elected to the Academic All-America teams since the 2000–01 academic year.
Majoring in mathematics and music, Hotaling is a three-time Academic All-District selection and a three-time Liberty League All-Academic honoree. She was also named to the United Soccer Coaches 2024 Scholar All-America second team.
On the field, Hotaling was voted the 2025 Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in goals (12) and points (25). She started all 17 matches this season and scored twice in wins over DeSales, Clarkson, and Skidmore. Hotaling was named Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week twice during the season.
One of the most productive players in program history, Hotaling will graduate seventh on William Smith’s career assists list with 25 and 19th in career points with 77. A two-time All-American, she earned All-Liberty League honors three times, including first-team recognition in each of the past two seasons. Hotaling was named to the 2024 NCAA All-Tournament Team after leading the Herons to the national championship match.
To be nominated for Academic All-America consideration, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher, and play in at least 90% of their team’s games or start at least 66%. Qualified nominees earn Academic All-District honors before advancing to the highly selective Academic All-America ballot.
Since Shawn Fazio became the first Hobart and William Smith student-athlete to earn Academic All-America recognition in 1979, HWS student-athletes have received 78 Academic All-America awards. William Smith soccer accounts for 20 of those honors, more than 25% of the total and the most of any of the institution’s 30 varsity sports.
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