2019-20 MIAC WOMEN'S HOCKEY AWARDS

MINNEAPOLIS -- For the fourth time in program history, an Augsburg University player earned the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Women's Hockey Player of the Year honor, as forward Bridget Wagner (SR, Niles, Ill./Maine South HS) earned co-Player of the Year honors, leading a group of seven Auggies to earn postseason women's hockey honors from the conference on Monday.

In addition to her Player of the Year honor, Wagner joined defender Nikki Nightengale (SR, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS), forward Emily Ach (SR, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Park Center HS), defender Mackenzie Molnar (SR, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS) and goalie Annie Juergens (SR, Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) as All-MIAC honorees. Forward Katie Flynn (FY, Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge HS) was named to the MIAC All-Rookie Team and earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors, and defender Hollywood Hermanson (SR, Dover, Minn./Dover-Eyota HS) was named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team.

Wagner and Nightengale finished their careers as three-time All-MIAC honorees, while Molnar was an All-MIAC Honorable Mention selection last year. It's the first MIAC honors for Ach, Juergens, Flynn and Hermanson. Wagner's Player of the Year honor marks the fourth time an Augsburg player has earned the award in program history, joining two-time honoree Angie Rieger (1999-2000, 2000-2001) and Lauren Chezick (2002-03).

The seven players are part of an Augsburg squad that earned the program's fifth straight berth in the MIAC postseason playoffs, finishing the season 21-6-0 overall, 15-3-0 in MIAC play, under 10th-year head coach Michelle McAteer. The 21 wins tied the 1999-2000 team (21-7-1) for the most wins in a single season, against all varsity opponents, in program history, while the 15 MIAC wins were a program record. Augsburg reached the MIAC playoff title game for the second time in the last four years.

For the third year in a row, Wagner led the Auggies in points, tying for the team-best with 20 (11 goals, 9 assists), including three power-play goals, a shorthanded goal and four game-winning goals. Among MIAC players in overall statistics, she finished tied for 13th in points, tied for 10th in goals and tied for 24th in assists. She had a goal or assist in 13 of her 27 games this season, including seven multiple-point games. In her 106-game college career, Wagner finished with 39 goals and 42 assists for 81 points, standing fifth in school history in career points, sixth in goals and fifth in assists. Wagner is also a two-time Academic All-MIAC honoree. Wagner shared MIAC Player of the Year honors with Hamline senior forward Jordan Hansen.

For the second straight year, Nightengale was one of the best scoring defenders in the MIAC, finishing with four goals and a team-best-tying 14 assists for 18 points. She was tied for second in points by defenders in the MIAC this season, and second in defender assists. Her assist total was tied for seventh-most among all MIAC players. She had a goal or assist in 14 of her 27 games this season, with two multi-point games. An American Hockey Coaches Association Division III second-team All-American and All-USCHO third-team honoree last season, she finished her 104-game career with 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points, tied for 14th in school history in career points, tied for 19th in goals and 10th in assists.

Molnar was also one of the best scoring defenders in the MIAC, joining Nightengale in second place among MIAC defenders with 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists). Her seven goals were the most scored by any MIAC defender this season, with her 11 assists sixth-most. She had a goal or assist in 11 of her 27 games this season, with five multi-point games. An Academic All-MIAC selection last year, Molnar finished her 104-game career with 22 goals and 29 assists for 51 points, standing 19th in school history in points, tied for 19th in goals, and 15th in assists.

Ach had one of the best seasons of her career in 2019-20, tied for the team lead with 11 goals, while adding eight assists for 19 points. Her five power-play goals were a team-high, and she added a shorthanded goal and two game-winners. Her 11 goals were tied for 10th-most among MIAC players, with her 19 points tied for 17th-most. Her five power-play goals were second-most among MIAC players, with her six power-play points tied for sixth-most. She had a goal or assist in 12 of her 26 games this season, with three multi-goal games and six multi-point games. Ach finished her 104-game career iwth 29 goals and 27 assists for 56 points, 15th in school history in career points, 12th in goals and 18th in assists.

Juergens split time in goal this season for the Auggies, playing in 13 games and finishing 8-5-0 overall, with 250 saves, a .936 save percentage and 1.35 goals against-average, claiming three shutouts. She finished third among MIAC goalies in goals against-average, second in save percentage and fifth in winning percentage (.615). She finished 15th among NCAA Division III goalies nationally in goals against-average and 24th in save percentage. A transfer who played her first two years at Hamline, Juergens recorded a 16-10-4 record in 30 Augsburg career games, with a 1.80 goals against-average and .915 save percentage (sixth in school history) with seven shutouts (third in school history). In her 61-game college overall career (58 starts), she finished with a 31-21-6 record, with a 2.03 goals against-average, .919 save percentage and 11 shutouts.

Flynn had a breakout campaign in her first year as an Auggie, tied for the team lead with 20 points, scoring eight goals with 12 assists, second-most on the team. She recorded two game-winning goals. Her 20 points were tied for 13th among MIAC players, with her 12 assists tied for 13th-most. She had a goal or assist in 14 of her 27 games, with six multi-point games. 

Hermanson was named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team, as part of the conference's sportsmanship initiative. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. Hermanson recorded three goals with seven assists for 10 points this season, and finished her 106-game Auggie career with six goals and 23 assists for 33 points, tied for 18th in school history in career assists.