GENEVA, N.Y. - Three Great Danes have been named All-Northeast Region by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).

Two juniors, Alison Smisdom and Floor de Ruiter, grabbed First Team honors while junior Blanca Orsola earned a Second Team nod.

Recently named the America East Midfielder of the Year for the second consecutive year, Smisdom led the Great Danes with 23 goals and 53 points. Tallying 1.21 goals per game and 2.79 points per game, she closed the 2023 season ranked fourth in the nation. During the America East tournament, Smisdom compiled five goals and 10 points against Maine (semifinal) to secure the season’s highest single-game goal total and the third-highest single-game point count throughout the nation. An Antwerp, Belgium native, she notched 15 multi-point and six multi-goal games while also adding three of the Great Danes’ five defensive saves on the season. Smisdom’s honor is her third First Team All-Northeast Region award and fourth regional award after being named the 2022 Northeast Player of the Year.

After grabbing her second-straight First Team All-America East award, Floor de Ruiter earned her second First Team All-Northeast Region honor. Dribbling up and down the field, through and around defenders, de Ruiter has led her team to several goals. Able to score a few times, the Noordwick, Netherlands native totaled six goals and six assists to finish third on the team with 18 points. 

A staple in the Great Danes’ corner unit, Blanca Orsola has served as a starter in each of her first three years. Closing the season in the top 10 of the nation with 0.61 assists per game, she totaled 11 assists to tie for second in the America East. Starting all games possible, and missing just one due to a card, she added two goals for 15 points on the season.

For the full release from the NFHCA, click here.

UAlbany finished 13-6 on the season, ending the year at the America East Championship in Lowell, Massachusetts. After breaking America East Tournament records with an 8-1 semifinal win over Maine, the Great Danes fell in overtime to California in the title game.

The Division I All-Region team announcement is the first in a list of postseason awards to come from the NFHCA over the next several weeks. Next to be announced are the NFHCA Regional Players of the Year on December 7. This announcement will be followed by the NFHCA All-American Teams (December 12) and the National Player of the Year (December 15).

For more information on the University at Albany field hockey team, follow the squad's official social media accounts shown below.
Twitter - @ualbanyfh
Instagram & Threads - @ualbanyfh
Facebook – facebook.com/UAlbanyFH