MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Blugolds.com) - UW-Eau Claire women's hockey forward Kristin Faber (Sr.-Austin, Minn.) has been named the 2011 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Scholar-Athlete while six others were named to the All-Academic Team, NCHA Commissioner Bill Kronschnabel announced today.
Faber, who made the All-NCHA team for the second straight season, also earned the 2011 NCHA Player of the Year Award - the first time a student-athlete has earned Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete in the same year. She earned NCHA Player of the Week honors three times during her career. This is the second straight season Faber has made the NCHA All-Academic Team, while it is the second straight year a Blugold was named the NCHA Scholar-Athlete as Beth Dittrich won the award last season.
A physical education major with a 3.50 grade point average, Faber led the Blugolds with 32 points this season (22 goals, 10 assists). In the Blugolds' season records, her 32 points ranks second only behind her mark of 34 that she achieved last season. Her 22 goals is a school record for most in a season. Faber also holds a number of career school records, including 113 points and 67 goals.
Winning All-Academic honors for the third time in her career was Kelli Johnson (Sr.-Farmington, Minn.). A nursing major with a 3.55 GPA, she played in all 27 games and finished with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists). Johnson had three game-winners.
Finishing with All-Academic recognition for the first time in their careers were Emily Haluska (So.-Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH), Kate Loberg-Sonderup (So.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata), Casey McMullen (So.-Minneapolis, Minn./South), Toni Simones (Jr.-Rosemount, Minn./South St. Paul) and Katie Ward (Jr.-Andover, Minn./Coon Rapids).
Haluska, an undeclared major with a 3.63 GPA, played in all 27 games this season. She finished with 10 points (six goals, four assists). Haluska scored two game-winning goals.
Lober-Sonderup, who is a communication sciences and disorders major with a 3.68 GPA, played in 27 games this season and had one assist.
McMullen, a social work major with a 3.69 GPA, recorded 13 points (six goals, seven assists) while playing in all 27 games. She finished with a team-high three short-handed goals and one game-winner.
Simones, a biology major with a 3.51 GPA, was second on the team with 19 points. She had a team-high 14 assists while also coming up with five goals, one of which came on a power-play.
Ward, who majors in business finance and holds a 3.49 GPA, played in nine games this season. She finished with two assists.
