Lancers Nab Three Major Awards, Five All-Conference Selections
WORCESTER, Mass. -- Worcester State women's ice hockey was honored with the Player of the Year, Goaltender of the Year and Coach of the Year as the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Alliance (ECHA) announced the recipients of the major award winners, All-ECHA and All-Rookie Teams, selected by the ECHA head coaches.
WORCESTER, Mass. -- Worcester State women's ice hockey was honored with the Player of the Year, Goaltender of the Year and Coach of the Year as the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Alliance (ECHA) announced the recipients of the major award winners, All-ECHA and All-Rookie Teams, selected by the ECHA head coaches.
Clare Conway (Billerica, MA) of Worcester State University was named the ECHA Player of the Year after posting 11 points (8 goals, 3 assists) in ECHA play. Conway tallied 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 22 games over the season. The senior forward is a major component in the Lancer offense as her goals per game ratio (.86) is 7th and her points per game ratio (1.45) is 16th in NCAA DIII Women's Ice Hockey.
Worcester State University's Amber Lee (Nashua, NH) earned ECHA Goaltender of the Year Honors. Lee earned a perfect 6-0-0 record in ECHA play, averaging a 1.00 goals against average. The netminder made 669 saves on the season over a whopping 1320:57 minutes played. She posted a .931 save percentage on the year. Lee was a major contributor in the Lancers 92.5% penalty kill unit.
Lancer's Head Coach Eliza Kelley was recognized as the ECHA Coach of the Year by her peers after guiding Worcester to a 6-0-0 mark in ECHA play and a 13-7-2 mark on the season. In the Lancer's finished their inaugural regular season with the 10th ranked offense (3.82 g/gm), 7th ranked power play percentage (27.9%) and 11th ranked penalty kill percentage (92.5%) in NCAA DIII Women's Ice Hockey.
Rivier University first-year Briana Paxson (Eagle River, AK) earned ECHA Rookie of the Year honors after leading the ECHA in rookie scoring (3g, 4a). Paxson's rookie campaign was integral to the Raider's offense as she was tied for first on the Raiders in goals and second in total points. Paxson contributed to nearly 40% of her teams total offense on the season. Paxson was also the team leader in shots taken.
Joining Conway and Lee on the first team was forward, Cassidhe Wozniak (Turners Falls, MA) and Anna Maria's Sara Sammons (Western Australia, AUS). Wozniak finished the season second in ECHA scoring with 10 points (4g, 6a) and 24 points (15g, 9a) in 21 games. Sammons finished 4th in the ECHA in points with 8 (3g, 5a) and 11 on the season (5g, 6a), good for third among the AMCATS.
Rounding out the first-team was a pair of Lancer defensemen, Julia Ravenelle (Barrington, NH) and Kylian Kelly (Shrewsbury, MA). Kelly and Ravenelle led the ECHA in defensive scoring with a combined two goals and nine assists. They are key factors in the Lancers 11th ranked penalty kill and 7th ranked power play.
The second-team landed forwards Jacqui Poulack (Natick, MA), Briana Paxson (Eagle River, AK), Jordyn Bleaney (Nanoose Bay, BC). Poulack finished the season with 14 goals and 14 assists in 22 games. Paxson led the Rivier offense with goals and a team second with assists. Bleaney was a standout for the AMCATS, leading them in goals, assists and points (7g, 7a, 15p). Bleaney's offense was ranked 17th in NCAA DIII Women's Ice Hockey for points per game.
Defensemen Maria Gaughan (Somersworth, NH), Alyssa MacDonald (Nanaimo, BC) and Rachel Hinkley (Swedesboro, NJ), also picked up second-team honors. Gaughan and MacDonald were both key pieces to their teams special teams and penalty kills. MacDonald helped guide her team to a 7th ranked (NCAA DIII Women's Ice Hockey) penalty kill percentage (95.9%). While Hinkley finished with a 9th ranked (NCAA DIII Women's Ice Hockey) save percentage with a .946.
Joining Paxson on the All-Rookie Team were forwards, Jordyn Bleaney (Nanoose Bay, BC), Sam Porazinski (Revere, MA), and Raven Carriere (Labroquerie West, MB). Porazinski finished the season with 19 points in 22 games (9g, 10a), While Carriere led the AMCATS in assists (9) and was tied for 4th in ECHA rookie scoring. The All-Rookie defense was dominated by Raiders with defensive duo of Audrey Schnoor and Heather McHatton. Rounding out the All-Rookie group is Rivier standout netminder, Rachel Hinkley.
FIRST TEAM ALL-ECHA
FORWARD Clare Conway, Worcester State University
FORWARD Sara Sammons, Anna Maria College
FORWARD Cassidhe Wozniak, Worcester State University
DEFENSE Julia Ravenelle, Worcester State University
DEFENSE Kylian Kelly, Worcester State University
GOALTENDER Amber Lee, Worcester State University
SECOND TEAM ALL-ECHA
FORWARD Jacqui Poulack, Assumption University
FORWARD Briana Paxson, Rivier University
FORWARD Jordyn Bleaney, Anna Maria College
DEFENSE Maria Gaughan, Assumption University
DEFENSE Alyssa MacDonald, Anna Maria College
GOALTENDER Rachel Hinkley, Rivier University
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
FORWARD Briana Paxson, Rivier University
FORWARD Jordyn Bleaney, Anna Maria College
FORWARD Sam Porazinski, Assumption University
FORWARD Raven Carriere, Anna Maria College
DEFENSE Audrey Schnoor, Rivier University
DEFENSE Heather McHatton, Rivier University
GOALTENDER Rachel Hinkley, Rivier University