PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Oswego State women’s ice hockey program earned its first All-American on Thursday night, as the Lakers’ lone senior, Bridget Smith, was named First Team All-America East by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) at the 2015 NCAA Division III Championship pre-tournament banquet in the Angell College Center’s Warren Ballrooms on Plattsburgh’s campus.
In 20 appearances for Oswego, the goaltender compiled a 13-5-1 record and a goals-against average of 1.69. She ranked in the top five nationally in several categories, including third in save percentage (.946) and a tie for third in shutouts (6). Smith also held the 11th spot in the country for minutes played (1172:35) and was 13th with her aforementioned GAA.
A pivotal tone-setter as an assistant captain, Smith anchored a defense that was also among the country’s best. Oswego is ranked eighth in Division III in team defense for holding opponents to just 1.67 goals per game. Even more impressive was the squad’s ability to kill penalties, ranked in the top spot in the country for allowing just six goals in 91 power-play chances for Laker foes. That comes out to a 93.4% success rate in killing penalties, a full 2% higher than the next closest penalty-kill unit.
Smith averaged 28.9 saves per game, boasting three 40-save outings, including a season-high 48 saves in a close 4-2 loss to Plattsburgh in the ECAC West Semifinal.
Over the Hamburg, N.Y. native’s career, Smith owns a .638 winning percentage, holding a 35-19-4 mark. She finishes her time as a Laker with a .935 save percentage, a 1.79 GAA and 13 shutouts in 58 starts.
The Lakers set new program marks behind Smith’s leadership during the 2014-15 campaign, posting more wins overall (19) and within league play (12) since the reboot of women’s ice hockey at Oswego in 2006.
2015 AHCA Division III Women’s All-Americans:
1ST TEAM
East
West
Bridget Smith, Sr., Oswego State
Goalie
Janna Beilke-Skoug, Sr., UW-Stevens Point
Brooke Wilgosh, Sr., Elmira
Defense
Paige Johnson, So., UW-River Falls
Alyssa Parke, Sr., Plattsburgh State
Defense
Megan Juricko, Jr., St. Thomas
Emily Fluke, Sr., Middlebury
Forward
Madison Gendreau, Sr., Concordia-Moorhead
Ashton Hogan, Sr., Elmira
Forward
Chloe Kinsel, Jr., UW-River Falls
Ashley Ryan, Sr., Elmira
Forward
Nina Waidacher, Sr., St. Scholastica
2ND TEAM
East West
Lindsey Brown, Sr., St. Anselm
Goalie
Jade Walsh, So., Adrian
Taylor Cross, Jr., Norwich
Defense
Courtney Boucher, Sr., Gustavus Adolphus
Carly Watson, So., Middlebury
Defense
Megan Crandall, So., St. Norbert
Defense Megan Menotti, Sr., UW-Stevens Point
Kaycie Anderson, Sr., Norwich
Forward
Alice Cranston, Sr., UW-River Falls
Kayla Meneghin, Fr., Plattsburgh State
Forward
Michelle Greeneway, Jr., Lake Forest
Shannon Stewart, Sr., Plattsburgh State
Forward
Kathryn Larson, So., Bethel
-Compiled by D3hockey.com
