Ava Ruppersberger Named To Scholar All-America Team
Former North Allegheny standout and current member of the William Smith College soccer team, Ava Ruppersberger, was named to the 2023 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Women’s Scholar All-America teams this week.
The 2023 Liberty League Player of the Year, Ruppersberger started all 19 games this season. She led the Herons with nine goals and 22 points. She had three multi-goal games this season, including a hat trick against Rensselaer in the semifinals of the Liberty League tournament. Ruppersberger was named a second team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches.
A biology major, Ruppersberger also earned 2023 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-East first team recognition. She is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection and a three-time Liberty League All-Academic pick. She has played in 63 career games, accumulating 52 points on 18 goals and 16 assists.
To be named to the Scholar All-America teams, a student-athlete must be at least a junior in athletic standing, have a minimum 3.40 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), play a minimum of 75 percent of games during the season and be an elite player as supported by playing honors (i.e. All-American, All-Region, all-conference).
The Herons concluded the 2023 season ranked 20th in the United Soccer Coaches poll. William Smith was 14-1-4 overall with a 6-0-3 mark in conference play, earning their 16th consecutive Liberty League regular season title. The Herons earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament following 1-0 win over RIT in the Liberty League Championship game. William Smith advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament where it was edged by Bowdoin 1-0 in overtime.
(Information and photo courtesy of William Smith College Athletics).