Union softball coach Peter Brown and assistant coach Brian Speck received the 2005 Liberty League Softball Coaching Staff of the Year Award. This is the third consecutive season that they have received this honor. The staff guided Union to a school record 30 victories, and they became only the 11th team in the nation to post 30 wins when they defeated Skidmore on May 6. The Dutchwomen entered the NCAA tournament, their third straight appearance, with a #8 national ranking, the highest in the program's history. Union won 27 of the last 30 games in 2005.
The 2005 Liberty League Softball Player of the Year is Union junior outfielder Julie Gawronski (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk). A two-time Liberty League Performer of the Week, Gawronski ranks among the NCAA Division III national leaders in three categories: RBIs (13th), batting (26th), and runs (27th). She led Union in a variety of categories, with her .488 average, 38 runs, 52 hits, 13 doubles, three triples, 42 RBIs and .664 slugging mark. She hit safely in 29 of 36 games, and had an 11 game hitting streak during the season. Gawronski also was second on the team with 11 stolen bases. In addition, Gawronski was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team, and will now be considered for national Academic All-America honors.
Union freshman catcher Catherine Kielb (Rensselaer, NY/Columbia) was named the 2005 Liberty League Softball Rookie of the Year. A two-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week, Kielb hit safely in 27 of 34 games in her first collegiate season. She batted .404 with two home runs and 30 RBIs while slugging .566. Kielb hit safely in nine of the last 11 games for the season. On the defensive side, she made just two errors in 144 chances, and had only two passed balls in her first collegiate season.
Gawronski and Kielb were joined by three teammates on the Liberty League First Team. Junior infielder Beth Carcone (Utica, NY/New Hartford) batted .394 with 10 RBIs and stole five bases. She started all 36 games at shortstop. Junior pitcher Abby Arceneaux (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) finished the season with a 14-3 record and 0.87 ERA, and struck out 141 batters in 113 innings. Junior pitcher Jackie Coffey (Boston, MA/Boston Latin) had a 15-game winning streak snapped in the NCAA's. She had a 16-3 record with a 0.83 ERA this season.
The Liberty League's Second Team featured three Dutchwomen players. Junior outfielder Erika Eisenhut (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) led the team with 12 stolen bases and batted .316 with 21 RBIs. She was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team. Freshman outfielder Kelly Owings (Oswego, NY/Oswego) batted .417, which was second among all regulars. She stole 11 bases and finished her first year with 40 base hits. Junior catcher Alicia Gifford (Schenectady, NY / Guilderland) had four hits in the two NCAA regional games and batted .368 for the season.