BOSTON (blugolds.com) - Sophie Rausch (Sr. - Fergus Falls, Minn.) has been named one of the eleven finalists for the 2022-23 Laura Hurd Award. The award is given to the American Hockey Coaches Association Division III Women's Player of the Year.
Rausch had a historical season in just one year for the Blugolds. Along with leading all of NCAA Division III and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in goals (32) and points (49), Rausch set new UW-Eau Claire program records in both categories. She ranked second in the nation in points and first in power play goals (12). Rausch is the third Blugold ever to be named a finalist. Erin Connolly was named a finalist after the 2019-20 season and Courtney Wittig was a finalist after the 2017-18 season.
The recipient of this year's Hurd Award will be announced on Thursday, March 16.
Sponsored by the American Hockey Coaches Association, the Hurd Award honors the memory of former Elmira College standout Laura Hurd. A 2005 graduate of Elmira, and a four-time All-American, Hurd died in an automobile accident shortly after graduation. She was the recipient of the AHCA Player of the Year Award in 2005.
