MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) office announced the 2018 All-WIAC women's hockey awards on Thursday, with the Blugolds landing four players on the First Team and three on the Honorable Mention Team.
Earning First Team honors was Elizabeth Bauer (So. – Wausau, WI/East), Erin Connolly (So. - Mequon, WI/Homestead), Holly Turnbull (Jr. – Hayward, WI) and Courtney Wittig (Jr. – Green Bay, WI/Bay Port).
Connelly and Wittig were named to the First Team for the second-straight season. Connolly, who has been stellar in goal for the Blugolds in her sophomore campaign, leads the WIAC in goals against average (1.40) and shutouts (5) and is third with 456 saves (18.24 average per game).
Wittig tied for third in the WIAC for assists (17), fourth for points (29) and tied for sixth in goals (12). The junior also tied for second with five power play goals.
Bauer and Turnbull moved up from Honorable Mention honors a year ago. Bauer was seventh in the WIAC in points (24) while Turnbull was fourth in points for defensemen (19). Turnbull was also fourth with 13 goals.
Kelly Knetter (Jr. – Wausau, WI/West), Sami Meister (So. - Plymouth, MN) and Jaedyn Walz (Sr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) earned spots on the Honorable Mention Team.
This is the second time for Meister and Walz to earn All-WIAC recognition. Meister is sixth in the WIAC in points for defensemen (13) while Walz tied for first for game-winning goals (3). Walz also played in a key role in the Blugolds' series sweep of UW-Superior in the WIAC Semifinals, recording a hat trick and an assist in game two.
Knetter also stepped up for the Blugolds in the post season, recording two goals and an assist in the sweep of Superior and has 16 points on the season.
In addition, Lauren Norgren (Sr. – Fergus Falls, MN) represented the Blugolds on the All-Sportsmanship Team.
The Blugolds, ranked No. 9 in the latest D3hockey.com Top 10, will play at No. 7 UW-River Falls in the WIAC Championship (presented by Culver's) Saturday at 2 p.m. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day.
