HADLEY, Mass. – The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) announced its women’s ice hockey awards for the 2024-25 season on Wednesday as voted by the league’s coaches.
Connecticut College forward Claire Sammons was voted as the NESCAC Player of the Year. Sammons is the first Connecticut College player to garner the Player of the Year honor in team history. Sammons led the Camels with 18 points on six goals and 12 assists in 24 games. The forward also blocked 22 shots and ranked fourth in assists and seventh in points among the NESCAC leaders.
Amherst’s Gretchen Dann was selected as the second-ever NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year after being initially awarded last season. Dann ranks second on the team in scoring with nine goals, including two game-winners and two power-play tallies, 10 assists, and 19 points. In 25 games, Dann has blocked 24 shots. Dann and the Mammoths (19-5-1) earned the top seed in the NESCAC Championship and will host the remaining rounds at Orr Rink on March 8 & 9.
Connecticut College newcomer Caitlin Pierce is the NESCAC Rookie of the Year. The forward is the first Camel to earn the honor since 2016 (Jordan Cross) and the third Connecticut College player overall to be recognized (Courtney Dumont, 2011). Pierce ranked second on the team in scoring, contributing six goals, including three game-winners, and eight assists for 14 points in 20 games played.
Bowdoin head coach Marissa O’Neil was voted the NESCAC Coach of the Year by her peers. O’Neil, who is in her 14th season behind the bench and has 158 wins, earns the honor for the second time in his career (2013). She guided the Polar Bears to the No. 4 seed in the NESCAC Championship and the team’s most wins since the 2012-13 season (16).
2025 NESCAC Women's Ice Hockey Awards
Player of the Year: Claire Sammons, Connecticut College
Defensive Player of the Year: Gretchen Dann, Amherst
Rookie of the Year: Caitlin Pierce, Connecticut College
Coach of the Year: Marissa O'Neil, Bowdoin
| All-NESCAC First Team |
| Pos |
Name |
School |
Yr |
Hometown |
Previous Honors |
| G |
Natalie Stott |
Amherst |
Jr. |
Franklin, Mass. |
2024 1st Team, 2023 ROY, 2023 1st Team |
| D |
Gretchen Dann |
Amherst |
Jr. |
Hanover, N.H. |
|
| D |
Sabrina Kim |
Middlebury |
Sr. |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
|
| D |
Breanna Studley |
Colby |
Jr. |
Berkley, Mass |
2024 1st Team |
| F |
Cat Appleyard |
Middlebury |
Sr. |
Rye, N.Y. |
|
| F |
Gia Massari |
Bowdoin |
Sr. |
Feasterville-Trevose, Pa. |
|
| F |
Maeve Reynolds |
Amherst |
Jr. |
Plymouth, Mass. |
2024 2nd Team |
| F |
Claire Sammons |
Conn. College |
Sr. |
Naperville, Ill. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| All-NESCAC Second Team |
| Pos |
Name |
School |
|
Hometown |
Previous Honors |
| G |
Mandy Busky |
Colby |
Sr. |
Ellington, Conn. |
|
| G |
Erin Pye |
Williams |
Jr. |
Third Lake, Ill. |
2024 2nd Team |
| D |
Emma Merrill |
Bowdoin |
Jr. |
Portland, Maine |
|
| D |
Georgia Pettygrove |
Colby |
Sr. |
Hopkins, Minn. |
|
| D |
Cece Ziegler |
Middlebury |
Sr. |
St. Paul, Minn. |
|
| F |
Jordan Hower |
Middlebury |
Sr. |
Kennett Square, Pa. |
|
| F |
Caitlin Pierce |
Conn. College |
Fy. |
Edgewater, N.J. |
|
| F |
Courtney Schumacher |
Colby |
Jr. |
Winnetka, Ill. |
|
| F |
Alyssa Xu |
Amherst |
Sr. |
Bayside, New Brunswick |
|
