MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) office announced the 2020 All-WIAC women's hockey awards on Friday. Leading the way for the Blugolds was Erin Connolly (Sr. Mequon, WI/Homestead) who earned WIAC Player of the Year and Head Coach Erik Strand receiving WIAC Coach of the Year.
Erin Connolly also earned first team honors. Connolly holds the national lead for shutouts with nine and sits atop the conference in save percentage (95%), goals against average (0.911), and wins (20). She is a four-time first team All-WIAC recipient and had reached her 100th-game played during the semifinal series against UW-Stevens Point on February 28th. Connolly is the first Blugold women's hockey player to receive four first team awards.
Head Coach Erik Strand earned WIAC Coach of the Year honors for the second time as the Blugold's bench boss, earning it in 2016 as well. During his time as the Blugold coach, Strand has led the team to 89 wins, two WIAC Women's Ice Hockey Tournament (O'Brien Cup) Championships, two national tournament appearances, and a team record 20 regular season wins.
Elizabeth Bauer (Sr. – Wausau, WI/East) earned first team All-WIAC honors with her team leading 11 goals. Bauer has accumulated 103 points, 14 powerplay goals, and 113 games played in her four years at Eau Claire. She has previously earned first team honors in 2018 and honorable mention recognition in 2017.
Ella Ierino (So. – Duluth, MN) was another Blugold to receive first team All-WIAC honors. She has played in all but two games this season and has had success holding the defensive line for Eau Claire in many critical situations throughout the year. Ierino was also named Blugold Freshman of the Year in 2019.
Emma Peterson (Jr. – Superior, WI) earned first team All-WIAC recognition for the first time in her collegiate career. Peterson has tallied a career-high nine goals and ten assists in her third season with the Blugolds.
Sami Meister (Sr. – Plymouth, MN/Wayzata), Bree Osborne (Jr. – West St. Paul, MN/Cretin Derham Hall), and Hanna Zavoral (Jr. – St. Paul, MN) all received All-WIAC honorable mention recognition. This is Meister's third consecutive year making the All-WIAC honorable mention team, while Osborne and Zavoral are first time recipients. Osborne and Meister have helped defend the Blugold blue line and have been able to keep a team record low of 25 goals against all year. Zavoral currently has the team lead in points (25) and assists (16) as a junior for Eau Claire.
In addition, Emily Bauer (Sr. – Wausau, WI/East) was named to the All-Sportsmanship team for Eau Claire.
The Blugolds are currently ranked #3 in the nation by USCHO.com and will play for the WIAC Championship on Saturday, March 7th against UW-River Falls.
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