2018-19 CCM/AHCA WOMEN'S HOCKEY DIVISION III ALL-AMERICA RELEASE
MINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg University women's hockey defender
Nikki Nightengale (JR, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) was named to the CCM Hockey/American Hockey Coaches Association Division III All-America Team as a second-team West Region honoree, it was announced on Thursday evening.
It's the first AHCA All-America honor for Nightengale, who earned
All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors in February for the second season in a row. Thirteen West Region players were named to two All-America squads -- six on the first team and seven on the second team, joining 12 players on two East Region squads for a total of 25 All-Americans.
Nightengale is the fourth Augsburg women's hockey player selected to the AHCA's All-American squad since the coaches organization began awards for women's hockey in 2000, and the first since
Annie Annunziato '04 was named in 2003-04.
Lauren Chezick '05 was named to the squad in the 2002-03 season, and
Angie Rieger '01 was an honoree in 1999-2000. Augsburg has now had nine women's hockey All-Americans honored by various organizations since the sport began at the university in 1995.
Nightengale was one of the best scoring defenders in the country this season, compiling 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points.
Among NCAA Division III defenders nationally, Nightengale led the country in goals, while her 0.81 points per-game average was seventh-best and her 21 points were tied for 11th-most among.
Among MIAC defenders in overall statistics, she led the conference in goals and finished third in points. Her goal total was tied fifth-most overall among all MIAC players regardless of position, with her point total tied for 12th-most overall.Â
Nightengale tied for the team's lead in special-teams goals with five power-play markers and one shorthanded goal, with the power-play goals tied for third-most among MIAC players (and tied for 15th-most nationally), and her nine power-play points (five goals, four assists) tied for sixth-most. She had a goal or assist in 15 of her 26 games this season, with six multi-point games. In her 79-game career, she now has 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points.
Under ninth-year head coach
Michelle McAteer, Augsburg finished 14-7-5 overall, 11-3-4 in MIAC play, finishing in a tie for third in the MIAC standings and earning the program's fourth straight berth in the MIAC postseason playoffs. Augsburg has had 13 or more wins, and nine or more MIAC victories, in each of the last four seasons.
The CCM Hockey/AHCA All-American Hockey Teams are sponsored by CCM Hockey and chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association. CCM is the legendary hockey brand dedicated to the endless pursuit of performance by delivering game-changing, head-to-toe innovative hockey equipment to players worldwide.
(NOTE: Story includes information taken from Augsburg's All-MIAC women's hockey release.)
