Issued: April 1, 2003

MEAD, SCHULTZ TOP WOMEN'S HOCKEY AWARDS

EAU CLAIRE - Defender Jen Mead (Sr.-Eau Claire/Regis) and forward Amanda Schultz (Fr.-Stevens Point/SPASH) won multiple awards at the UW-Eau Claire women's hockey banquet held this past weekend.

Mead and Shultz each won Co-MVP honors at the banquet. Shultz led the team in points and goals as she totaled 19 points on 14 goals and five assists as a rookie, prompting her to also win the Top Rookie award. Shultz finished with a team-best four power play goals and tied for first in power play points.

Mead led the 2002-2003 Blugolds in assists as she totaled 10 of her 11 points via the assist. The senior defender shared the lead in power play points with Schultz while also receiving the Blugold award. Mead demonstrated excellent dedication not only on the ice but in the classroom as she was awarded the Student Athlete award.

Rounding out the list of the 2002-2003 award winners is Jessie Boyles (Fr-Prior Lake, MN) who took home the Most Improved Player award. Boyles had a strong freshman season as she totaled a goal and an assist, including a game-winning goal against Hamline early in the season.

Three Blugolds earned their third career varsity letter in women's hockey this year in Connie Cameron (Jr-Chippewa Falls/McDonnell), Megan Christopherson (Jr-Stillwater, MN), and Sarah Zollars (Jr-White Bear Lake, MN). Second time letter winners are Mead, Tara Berlute (So-Bloomington, MN), Kristi Hawkinson (So-Stacy, MN/Forest Lake), Jamie Hewitt (So-Andover, MN/Anoka), Christa Hubert (So-Blaine, MN), JoAnne Koenck (So-Apple Valley, MN/Rosemount), Jackie Peplinski (So-Brookfield, WI/Shattuck St. Mary's), Rachel Rundquist (So-Eau Claire/North), and Jess Schmidt (Sr-Wauwatosa/East) while first time letter winners include Schultz, Boyles, Laura Brackey (Fr-St. Paul, MN), Becky Koenck (Fr-Apple Valley, MN/Rosemount), Megan Oswall (Fr-Stevens Point/SPASH), Claire Parda (Fr-Waukesha/Catholic Memorial), Sarah Steinhoff (Fr-St. Paul, MN/Henry Sibley), Crystal Wasem (Fr-Chaska, MN), and Melissa White (Fr-Chippewa Falls).

The Blugolds finished the 2002-2003 season with an overall record of 8-14-3 and a 2-12-2 record in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. The team finished the season off in style with a 9-2 crushing of NCHA rival Lake Forest behind the strength of hat tricks from both Schultz and Christa Hubert. Eau Claire also won four games via shutout.