Cortland freshman midfielder/defender Kaylee Hughen (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Boonton) has been named the SUNYAC University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Rookie of the Year, as the conference announced its field hockey major award winners and all-conference teams on Wednesday morning.  

Hughen was also one of four Red Dragons to be named to the all-conference team, and is joined by freshman midfielder/defender Lillian Morse (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) on the first team. Meanwhile, senior defender Claire McCarthy (Bay Shore) and junior defender Emma Rice (Greene/Greene Central) were second-team selections. All four Red Dragons earned the first all-conference honors of their careers.
 
Hughen started all 19 games for the Red Dragons in her debut season. She finished with four points on two goals, and helped the Cortland defense record four shutouts during the year. Hughen capped her season by scoring the game-winning goal in a 2-1 overtime victory over New Paltz in the SUNYAC Semifinals, sending a reverse-stick shot off the bottom of the crossbar and into the goal after dribbling around a pair of defenders. Hughen was also selected to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team.

Morse also started all 19 games for Cortland in 2025 to earn the all-league nod. She recorded nine points on four goals and one assist, including registering at least one point in three of the five conference contests for the Red Dragons. Morse tallied goals in victories over MIT, Oswego, and Morrisville, and provided one defensive save for the Cortland defense. She was also named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team.
 
McCarthy played in and started 18 games for the Red Dragons, including all five games during the conference regular season. The senior was part of the Cortland defense that allowed one goal or fewer in 10 contests, in addition to posting four shutouts. Cortland allowed just 1.40 goals per game in conference play with two shutouts.
 
Rice also started and played in all 19 games during the season for the Red Dragons. The junior provided one defensive save for the year, in the championship game of the conference tournament. During the year, Rice helped Cortland hold all opponents to a .162 shooting percentage, while limiting opponents to 10 or fewer shots in 4-of-5 conference games.  
 
Cortland finished the year with an 8-11 record. The Red Dragons were third in the conference regular season, and reached the championship game of the conference tournament for the seventh consecutive season after the 2-1 overtime victory at New Paltz.