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D2 Sportswoman of the Year

#17 -- Kaila Cantens, AU

We had Kaila for 1 semester before she's headed back to Mt. Holyoke, but in that time she managed to change our entire team for the better.  Outgoing, eager to learn and to include others, Kaila helped bring our team together and helped us have fun in a season that was tough on everyone.  She would actively work to talk to members of the other team, never got a penalty and tried her hardest each and every shift.  Her friendly and forward style embodies the fun that hockey is supposed to be about & we're thankful she's one of us now. 


#9 -- Rachel Collette, IUP

Rachel is the nicest hockey player you will ever meet, and certainly one of the nicest, most genuine people you may ever know.  She would regularly apologize during the game even when she was not at fault. She would always be concerned that both her own teammates as well as her opponents were ok, and she always had the best interest of others in mind.  She was also the most joyful and optimistic player in our locker room, in the team van, or where ever we were.  She was always there to boost our spirits, make us laugh, and simply ensure that while we were competing we never lost sight of having fun while doing it.  She also functioned as Vice President and Treasurer and was instrumental in making sure the team could function.

#25 -- Arrianna Diamantis, RUTGERS

As our President for the past season, Arrianna served as a liaison between the school, the rink, the league, and our team. She holds herself and the club to a very high standard and ensures that we are always operating under Rutgers policy. The devotion Arrianna has to the team is evident in the effort she put towards successfully recruiting enough new players to keep the club alive. When Rutgers found itself without a goalie, she actually brought her girlfriend, a former soccer goalie, in to play for us.

Arrianna makes sure that every single player is treated equally and fairly, and has served as a liaison between the school, the rink, the league, and our team. She is gracious both on and off the ice and always demonstrates the utmost professionalism, no matter who she is working with--whether it's another captain, our adviser, or the head of a sales department. This year, she successfully juggled completing three(!!!) majors and applying for law school along with managing the responsibilities of being our president. We will miss her, but we are so excited that she is attending law school in the fall, and we wish her all the best!


#40 -- Elizabeth Ditzel, ROWAN

Liz Ditzel was one of Rowan's two goalies for the three years she played for the team. She grew up playing hockey with her brother, so she had plenty of experience in getting hit with pucks. Even though she had been playing longer than Rowan's other goalie, she gracefully split the games for the past three years, meaning she really only got to play half of every season. Liz showed great sportsmanship in giving up her playing time so that someone else also got a chance to play the game and position she loves.


#4 -- Taisiya Novopachennaia, UVA


#23 -- Chloe Walton, COLUMBIA


#10 -- Susan Wissmann, NAVY

Susan began playing hockey her freshman year at the Academy.  Although she spent the most minutes in the penalty box, she did so with finesse.  Even when Susan found herself in a frustrating situation she kept a cool head, which set a great example for the rest of the team.  Confrontation never discouraged Susan from giving 100% while she was on the ice.  With grace and her head down, Susan often demonstrates the team’s chant “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”