UTICA, NY – Four athletes on the nationally-ranked No. 7 Utica College women's hockey team were named to 2006-2007 ECAC Women's West All-Conference Teams released Friday. Stephanie Price (Little Caesars/River Rouge, MI), who also was named the ECAC West Player of the Year, and line mate Deana Wiegand (Belle Tire (MI)/Utica, MI) each earned first-team status. Sophomore defenseman Jessica LeClerc (Deerfield Academy/Augusta, ME) earned second team honors, while forward Andrea Maxon (North Country Ice Storm/Canton, NY) was named to the All-Rookie Team.
Price, a senior captain, earned player of the year and first-team honors after posting a career-best season of 46 points on 22 goals and 24 assists. She ended the regular season ranking third nationally in goals per game (.88) and power play goals (nine). She ranks fourth nationally in points per game (1.84) and game-winning goals (five), while ranking sixth in the country in short handed goals (three). She heads into her final post-season as a Pioneer with 134 career points on 54 goals and 80 assists. This past season Price was named the ECAC West Player of the Week twice and was honored in the highly popular “Faces in the Crowd” section of Sports Illustrated after tallying four goals in the Pioneers' 6-2 win over visiting New England College January 6, 2007.
Wiegand, the college's all-time scoring leader with 170 career points (74 goals, 96 assists), is making her third appearance on the first-team. Wiegand earned second team status as a sophomore. Headed into this weekend's game she leads the nation in assists per game (1.20) and is tied for second nationally averaging 1.96 points per game after tallying 19 goals and 30 assists in 25 contests. Wiegand also led the team in penalty minutes (58). The former ECAC Women's West Rookie of the Year was named the conference player of the week on two occasions this past season.
LeClerc, a sophomore defender, earned second team honors after posting 17 points on four goals and 13 assists. She helped guide the Pioneers to the No. 1 ranked combined special teams in the country (62.4%). UC scored on 39 of its 148 power play opportunities, good for third in the country, while stopping 175 of the opponents 195 power play chances.
Maxon, a freshman forward, was named to the All-Rookie Team for her outstanding efforts this past season. She currently ranks 8th nationally and third in the conference in rookie scoring averaging .96 points per game. She finished the regular season fourth on the team with 24 points on 13 goals and 11 assists. She was named the conference rookie of the week for the week ending November 26, 2006.
The Pioneers head into the conference tournament riding the nation's third longest unbeaten streak going 8-0-1 over their past nine games. This marks their sixth consecutive appearance in the conference tournament. The Pioneers finished the regular season 18-4-3 overall and 10-2-2 in the conference, earning the No. 3 seed in the tournament hosted by Plattsburgh St. this weekend. UC squares off against No. 2 Elmira College at 4 p.m. Saturday. The game will be broadcasted live locally on the Sports Stars Radio Network (AM 1230, 1350, 1480, 1550) and streaming live on the web: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE >>>
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