SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) released their 2026 field hockey awards, Friday afternoon, including Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coaching Staff of the Year and All-Conference teams as voted on by the conference coaches. Oneonta field hockey had four members earn All-Conference honors with senior captain Alexandra Howell (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East) receiving the Offensive Player of the Year award.

Howell was joined by senior captain Abigail Draper (Remsen, NY/Holland Patent), sophomore Isabella Cunha (Carle Place, NY/Carle Place), and freshman Gaby Ackley (Windsor, NY/Windsor Central) on the All-SUNYAC teams. Howell and Draper received First Team status, while Cunha and Ackley gained Second Team recognition. It is the third time for both Howell and Draper to be named All-Conference, and it is the first time for Cunha and Ackley. 

"Super proud of these four as they all put together a great season," said Head Coach Kelly Kingsbury. 

Howell is the fourth Red Dragon to be named the SUNYAC Player of the Year, joining Meg Donnelly '04 (2003), Ainsley Stoll '10 (2009), and Andrea Day '14 (2014). She is the first in program history to be named the SUNYAC Offensive Player of the Year since the conference split the Player of the Year into an Offensive and Defensive award in 2015. Howell also joins Day '14 in program history as the only two to win both the SUNYAC Rookie of the Year and the Player of the Year.

This season, the Holtsville, N.Y. native started all 17 games and led the conference with 20 goals and 48 points, adding eight assists along the way. In Division III, Howell was seventh in goals per game (1.18) and ninth in points per game (2.82), while she was tied for 49th in assists per game (0.47). She became the sixth Red Dragon ever to record at least 20 goals in a single season, while her 48 points were the fifth-most recorded in a single season in Oneonta history. She had three four-goal games this year, including a four-goal and three-assist outing against Elmira. The 11-point game was the second-best single-game performance in history, and best since Karen Graves '71 scored 12 points in a game during Oneonta's inaugural season in 1970.

Howell ended her career with 49 goals and 35 assists for 133 points. She became the program's all-time career assists leader, finishing tied for second in career points and sixth in career goals.

Draper started all 17 games this season for the Red Dragons as a defenseman. This season, the senior captain scored two goals and an assist for five points. Draper recorded a game-winner in Oneonta's regular season victory at Manhattanville. She was named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament team after her performance in the conference tournament.

In her career, Draper started every game Oneonta played during her four years here. In her 70 collegiate starts, Draper recorded eight goals and 13 assists for 29 points. On the defensive side, she totaled nine defensive saves.

"Ali and Abby will be tough pieces to replace as they have both carried such integral roles for four years," Coach Kingsbury continued. "They have made the program better and been incredible role models."

Cunha started all 17 games for Oneonta as a midfielder. The sophomore Red Dragon finished the season with two goals and five assists for nine points. Both Cunha and Ackley were tied for second on the team and ninth in the conference with five assists. Cunha became the eighth player in program history to record three assists in a single game, totaling three with a goal for five points against Manhattanville. She recorded an assist in conference play, assisting Howell in Oneonta's 2-0 win at Oswego.

"Izzy is so deserving of this honor and I'm so happy for her," Coach Kingsbury commented on Cunha earning All-Conference for her first time.

Ackley started all 17 games as a forward in her freshman campaign for Oneonta. She finished second on the team with 15 points, totaling five goals and five assists. The Red Dragon freshman had two games where she scored two goals, with one happening against Morrisville in conference play.

"Gaby had an excellent rookie campaign and really gave us a phenomenal boost on attack," said Coach Kingsbury. "Her game IQ is incredible, she sees the field and game at a very high level. I am super excited for her next three years!" 

Oneonta finished the season 9-8 overall, going 3-1 in the SUNYAC during the regular season to clinch the two seed in the conference and hosting rights for the SUNYAC Tournament.