Women's Ice Hockey All-NESCAC Teams Named
Hamilton’s Miguel, Amherst’s Elek Share League’s Top Honor
HADLEY, Mass. - Hamilton sophomore forward Stephanie Miguel (Maple, Ontario) and Amherst junior goaltender Krystyn Elek (Summerville, S.C.) were chosen as the 2009 NESCAC Co-Players of the Year, as determined by the conference coaches. Miguel led the NESCAC in overall scoring this season, while Elek backstopped the two-time defending NESCAC Women’s Ice Hockey Champion Jeffs to a sterling 16-0-0 league record, the second time in conference history that a team has won all 16 games. They are the first individuals from their respective institutions to garner Player of the Year.
Miguel had a breakout sophomore campaign, more than doubling the 15 points she accumulated as a rookie last season with a team-leading 21 goals and 16 assists for 37 points through all 25 of the Continentals’ outings. Of her 21 tallies, seven came on the power-play, one while Hamilton was shorthanded, and three served as the game-winning goal. Miguel posted 20 points on 11 goals and nine assists during conference competition, as she finished the NESCAC slate in a three-way tie for second among all skaters. Miguel collected a career-high five points during a Jan. 25 win at Wesleyan, playing a part in all five Hamilton goals with three of her own and assists on the two others. In addition to being named Co-Player of the Year, Miguel also found a spot on the All-Conference First Team.
Elek garnered All-NESCAC honors for the third consecutive year, as she was selected to the First Team in 2006 before being recognized on the Second Team in 2007. Leading the league and among the top netminders in the nation statistically, the 2006 NESCAC Rookie of the Year owns a 12-3-0 record with four shutouts along with a 1.30 goals against average and a .945 save percentage heading into this weekend’s NESCAC championship. Elek’s figures were even more impressive against conference opponents, as her .971 save percentage this season was the highest ever in league play while her 0.63 goals against average was second-lowest all-time. Through three seasons, Elek is 40-13-6 with a 1.45 goals against average, a .941 save percentage, and 14 shutouts.
Amherst sophomore forward Courtney Hanlon (Fullerton, Calif.) was the only holdover from last year’s First Team this winter. Hanlon currently paces the Jeffs in scoring for the second-straight season, scoring 14 goals - four serving as game-winners - and 13 assists for 27 points to rank fifth in the conference in overall scoring and tied for fourth in goals. She heads into the weekend having recorded a point in eight of Amherst’s last 10 games (8-5-13).
Moving up from the 2008 Second Team to the 2009 First Team was Trinity sophomore forward Kim Weiss (Potomac, Md.). After a stellar rookie season with the Bantams in which she led her club in scoring with 27 points, Weiss followed it up by heading up her squad in scoring again this year with an even 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points.
Middlebury senior Molly Vitt (Kenilworth, Ill.) rounds out the four forwards on the 2009 All-NESCAC First Team. The Panthers’ top scorer, Vitt had a career year as she earned All-Conference for the first time with 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points, good enough for fourth among all players. Of her 28 points, 22 came against NESCAC foes (8-14-22), more than any other skater in the league this season.
Seniors Randi Dumont (Greene, Maine) of Middlebury and Kate Marek (Alexandria, Va.) of Hamilton represent the defenders named to the First Team. Dumont has contributed a goal and 13 assists to the Panthers’ offense this season, tying for fifth among all conference blue liners, while Marek was second as she tallied a goal and chipped in 16 assists for the Continentals.
Rookie of the Year honors went to Bowdoin first year forward Dominique Lozzi (Reading, Mass.). Lozzi generated 14 goals and six assists for a team-high 20 points as she accounted for the game-winning goal in six of the Polar Bears’ 11 victories this season (1st NESCAC). Amongst first year players in the NESCAC, Lozzi was second overall in points and first in goals, as her 14 markers tied for fourth overall.
Amherst bench boss Jim Plumer was selected as Coach of the Year for the second time in the past three seasons. Plumer, now in his sixth tour at the helm of the two-time defending conference champion Jeffs, has guided his team to its third consecutive 20-win season, needing just one more win to set the program mark for victories in a year. Amherst also earned the top seed in this winter’s NESCAC Women’s Ice Hockey Championship for the first time in tournament history thanks to their unbeaten record in league play.
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2008-09 NESCAC Women's Ice Hockey All-Conference
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First Team |
Institution
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Yr. |
Hometown |
F
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Courtney Hanlon
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Amherst
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So.
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Fullerton, Calif.
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F
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Stephanie Miguel
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Hamilton
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So.
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Maple, Ontario
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F
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Molly Vitt
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Middlebury
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Sr.
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Kenilworth, Ill.
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F
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Kim Weiss
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Trinity
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So.
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Potomac, Md.
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| D |
Randi Dumont |
Middlebury |
Sr. |
Greene, Maine |
D
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Kate Marek
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Hamilton
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Sr.
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Alexandria, Va.
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G
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Krystyn Elek
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Amherst
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Jr.
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Summerville, S.C.
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Second Team |
Institution |
Yr. |
Hometown |
F
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Annmarie Cellino
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Middlebury
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Sr.
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West Seneca, N.Y.
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F
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Lindsey Harrington
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Amherst
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Sr.
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Westford, Mass.
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F
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Becky Julian
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Colby
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Sr.
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South Windsor, Conn.
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D
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Joey Lye
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Williams
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Sr.
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Toronto, Ontario
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D
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Randi Zukas
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Amherst
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So.
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Glen Head, N.Y.
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| G |
Sara Plunkett |
Williams |
Jr. |
Barrington, R.I. |
G
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Rachel Stemerman
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Wesleyan
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Sr.
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Williamsville, N.Y.
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Co-Players of the Year |
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F
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Stephanie Miguel
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Hamilton
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So.
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Maple, Ontario
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| G |
Krystyn Elek |
Amherst |
Jr. |
Summerville, S.C. |
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Rookie of the Year |
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F
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Dominique Lozzi
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Bowdoin
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Fy.
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Reading, Mass.
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Coach of the Year |
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Jim Plumer
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Amherst
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