For the second year in a row, the William Smith field hockey team is the recipient of the Liberty League Field Hockey Sportsmanship Award by representatives from each member institution's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the league office announced today.

The Herons finished the 2009 season with a 9-8 overall record, the program's 25th consecutive winning season. William Smith hasn't had a losing season since 1983. Five Herons earned All-Liberty League accolades, two were selected to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-Region Team, and senior midfielder Kaitlyn Hamilton earned NFHCA third team All-America honors. Additionally, 10 members of the team earned a spot on the Liberty League All-Academic Squad.

The winning team in each fall sport was selected by league members based on sportsmanship exhibited by teams, coaches, fans, and event staff. Examples of good sportsmanship include respect for opponents and officials, positive support for all competitors, and proper conduct in the arena of competition as defined by the applicable playing rules.

Recipients of the Fall 2009 Sportsmanship Awards are as follows:

Men's Cross Country: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Women's Cross Country: Vassar College
Field Hockey: William Smith College
Football: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Golf: Skidmore College
Men's Soccer: Vassar College
Women's Soccer: Clarkson University
Volleyball: St. Lawrence University & Union College

Hobart and William Smith Colleges have previously won Liberty League Sportsmanship Awards in men's golf (fall 2008), field hockey (fall 2008), men's squash (winter 2008-09), and women's tennis (spring 2009).

A member conference of the NCAA's Division III, the Liberty League has nine full members and sponsors championships in 24 sports. The member institutions of the league place the highest priority on the overall quality of the educational experience and on the successful completion of its student-athletes' academic programs. The member institutions seek to establish and maintain an environment in which a student-athlete's athletic activities are conducted as an integral part of the educational experience.

Originally founded as the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association in 1995, the conference was renamed the Liberty League during the summer of 2004. The league includes founding members Clarkson University, Hamilton College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the University of Rochester, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, St. Lawrence University, Skidmore College, and Union College. Vassar College became a full member of the league during the 2000-01 academic year. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is an associate member in the sports of football and men's golf, while Worcester Polytechnic Institute is an associate member in football only. Beginning with the 2011-12 academic year Bard College and Rochester Institute of Technology will join the league as full members, while Hamilton College will depart in order to fully integrate its athletic programs within the New England Small College Athletic Conference.