KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Putting the exclamation point on a pair of outstanding seasons on both ends of the field, Christopher Newport University seniors Sarah Smith and Jill McDonald have been named All-Americans by the United Soccer Coaches association. Both make history as Smith becomes just the third first team United Soccer Coaches All-American in program history while McDonald, picked to the third team, is the first defender to earn the national recognition. 

Announced by the United Soccer Coaches in a press release on Wednesday, Smith and McDonald have been named All-Americans for the second straight year. Smith was named a third team selection in 2021 and McDonald collected second team D3soccer.com All-American plaudits a year ago.

Earning first team honors, Sarah Smith joins Gabby Gillis (2017, 2018) and Riley Cook (2018, 2021) as the only players in the 25-year history of the program to collect first team All-American honors from the coaches association. She was also one of only seven repeat All-Americans in 2022 of the 45 total student-athletes selected. 

In just two seasons playing at Christopher Newport after transferring from Division I Virginia Tech, Smith made an indelible impression on the program as one of the most dynamic offensive players to wear the Captains jersey. In just 40 games played, Smith recorded 20 goals and four assists for 44 career points including an impressive 10 game-winning goals. Half of her 20 career scores won games for the Captains as she helped elevate the program to elite status, winning a national championship in 2021 and reaching the National Quarterfinals again in 2022. 

The Norfolk, Va. native ranks in the top-ten all-time in goals per game (T7th - 0.50), and points per game (T9th - 1.10). She also attempted 148 total shots in her two seasons, ranking third all-time at CNU in shots per game (3.70). This season, Smith missed five games due to an injury but still topped the Captains scoring chart with 23 points on 11 goals and one assist. She ripped 81 shots and was on target over 50 percent of the time (.506), causing problems for opposing goalkeepers throughout the year. 

While Smith handled the offensive end, teammate Jill McDonald was the leader on the defensive side of the ball. The 5-9 center back from Fredericksburg, Va. was the first defender in program history to earn All-American honors last season and continues to make history in 2022. Starting 44 straight games played in the last two seasons, she has helped the Christopher Newport defense register statistically the two finest seasons in program history. 

The CNU back line surrendered only seven goals all season for a 0.31 goals-against average, ranking second in program history, while also tying the program record for shutouts in a season with 16. She was also a threat offensively, ranking fourth on the team in total points with nine, scoring four times with one assist. McDonald was named a first team All-Conference defender and earned C2C Tournament MVP honors as she helped the Captains post two shutouts and win the conference championship. 

This year's All-Americans will be recognized for their accomplishments at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Ceremony & Reception on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Convention.

 

2022 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Women's All-America Teams
 

First Team
Pos	Name	Class	School	Hometown
K	Morgan Fedosiewich	Sr.	Babson College	Ottawa, Ont.
D	Sarah Campbell	GR-5	Wartburg College	Waverly, Iowa
D	Annie Isphording	Fr.	Johns Hopkins University	Cincinnati, Ohio
D	Alexis McMahon	So.	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	San Jose, Calif.
D	Bailey Meyer*	Sr.	Trinity University (Texas)	Southlake, Texas
D	Jenna Skurcenski	Jr.	Messiah University	Mechanicsburg, Pa.
M	Kristina Akselsen	So.	Messiah University	Wall, N.J.
M	Julia Berg	Sr.	William Smith College	Charlottesville, Va.
M	Michaela Fasolino*	GR-5	Misericordia University	Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
M	Payton McDonnell*	Sr.	Loras College	Arlington Heights, Ill.
F	Camryn Hartman	GR-5	Case Western Reserve University	Cleveland, Ohio
F	Jordan Restivo	GR-5	Johnson & Wales University (R.I.)	Utica, N.Y.
F	Molly Sheridan	Sr.	Trinity University (Texas)	St. Louis, Mo.
F	Sarah Smith*	GR-5	Christopher Newport University	Norfolk, Va.
F	Emma Sweitzer	So.	Misericordia University	Dallas, Pa.
Second Team
Pos	Name	Class	School	Hometown
K	Calista Burke	So.	Rowan University	Westmont, N.J.
D	Marley Clendenin	GR-5	Susquehanna University	Bethesda, Md.
D	Jules Dotterweich*	GR-5	McDaniel College	Perry Hall, Md.
D	Rachel Legg	Sr.	Carnegie Mellon University	Kansas City, Mo.
D	Ellie Lochbaum	Jr.	North Central College	Sycamore, Ill.
M	Ellie Arndt	So.	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	Appleton, Wis.
M	Aileen Cahill	Jr.	Montclair State University	Little Egg Harbor, N.J.
M	Greta Farkas	Jr.	Bowdoin College	Chevy Chase, Md.
M	Maddie Pero	Sr.	Tufts University	Corte Madera, Calif.
M	Caelyn Steffens	GR-5	Illinois Wesleyan University	Normal, Ill.
F	Jaden Galluzzo	GR-5	SUNY Cortland	Commack, N.Y.
F	Avery Hart	Sr.	Capital University	Pickerington, Ohio
F	Patience Kum	So.	Amherst College	Takoradi, Ghana
F	Mills Mullen	Sr.	Centre College	Charleston, W.Va.
F	Katie Sullivan*	So.	Johns Hopkins University	Yardley, Pa.
Third Team
Pos	Name	Class	School	Hometown
K	Rachel Quigley	Jr.	Virginia Wesleyan University	Columbus, N.J.
D	Erin Allor	Sr.	Rochester Institute Of Technology	Upper Marlboro, Md.
D	Kristen Burdick	Sr.	University of Mary Hardin-Baylor	Flower Mound, Texas
D	Kylie Cabana	Jr.	Ohio Northern University	Dexter, Mich.
D	Jillian McDonald	Sr.	Christopher Newport University	Fredericksburg, Va.
D	Merry Meyer	Sr.	Case Western Reserve University	Maplewood, N.J.
D	Elise Morris	Sr.	Middlebury College	Seattle, Wash.
M	Cali Bruce	Sr.	Emerson College	Glen Allen, Va.
M	Kaleigh Dale	Sr.	Springfield College	Mansfield, Conn.
M	Charlotte Tapp	Sr.	Pomona-Pitzer Colleges	La Canada, Calif.
F	Maggie Brett	Sr.	Washington University (Mo.)	Glenview, Ill.
F	Regan Coxon	Sr.	Dominican University	Lowell, Mich.
F	Karenna Groff*	GR-5	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Weston, Mass.
F	Cassie Nash	Sr.	Simpson College	Lincoln, Neb.
F	Ryleigh O'Brien	Sr.	Loras College	Hampton, Ill.

* - Denotes previous selection