MINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg University women's hockey head coach Elizabeth Bauer, goalie Kayla Simonson (FY, Delano, Minn./Delano HS) and defender Nora Stepan (JR, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS) earned awards for the 2024-25 season from the DIIIHockeyNews.com website, it was announced this week. Bauer was named women's National Coach of the Year, Simonson was named the nation's Rookie of the Year, an All-Rookie Team honoree and as a West Region All-America first-team selection, and Stepan was named as a West Region All-America second-team selection.

Bauer was also named the CCM Hockey/American Hockey Coaches Association Division III Women's National Coach of the Year in March. Bauer was named the third head coach in the 30-season history of Augsburg women's hockey in September 2024. Inheriting a team that had lost seven players to graduation and had 11 first-year players and two transfers on its 25-player roster for this campaign, with just three seniors, Bauer led the Auggies to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season and playoff championships in the 2024-25 season -- both for the first time for the Auggies since 1999-2000 -- and Augsburg's first-ever trip to the NCAA Division III national tournament, reaching the national semifinals. Augsburg's 25-3-1 overall record and 16-2-0 MIAC marks are both program records. 

Bauer served as the full-time assistant coach at Augsburg in the 2023-24 season, as the Auggies finished 19-7-0 overall and 15-3-0 in MIAC play. As part of her duties, Bauer helped run all hockey operations and was a major part of the Auggies' recruiting efforts.

Simonson was named as a CCM Hockey/AHCA Division III All-America West Region first-team honoree in March, and earned All-MIAC and All-MIAC Playoff Team honors this season. Simonson had one of the best seasons for a goalie in Augsburg women's hockey history, with a 15-4-0 record and five shutouts in 19 starts. She finished with a .941 save percentage (507 saves, 32 goals allowed) and 1.57 goals against-average. Her save percentage is second-best in a season in school history, with her goals against-average sixth-best and her five shutouts tied for second-most. She finished third among MIAC goalies in goals against-average, tied for first in save percentage, second with a 26.68 saves per-game average, and tied for first in shutouts. Her 15 victories stand third in a single season in Augsburg history, with her five shutouts tied for second-most.

Among NCAA Division III goalies nationally, Simonson finished 26th in goals against-average, tied for 25th in save percentage, eighth in goalie winning percentage and tied for 17th in shutouts.

Stepan, named a CCM Hockey/AHCA Division III All-America West Region first-team honoree in March, was also named MIAC Defensive Player of the Year this season, while earning All-MIAC honors for the third straight year. She was also named as one of 13 finalists for the AHCA's 2025 Laura Hurd Award, given annually to the best NCAA Division III women's hockey player in the country. Stepan led the Auggies this season with 16 goals and 29 points, while second on the team with 13 assists, with a team-high plus-26 plus-minus rating. Her 16 goals were third-most among MIAC players, while her 29 points were tied for third-most and her 12 assists are tied for 11th. Stepan's 16 goals were the most among all NCAA Division III defenders nationally, with her points total tied for third-most. Stepan was part of an Auggie defense that allowed just 44 goals this season, the fewest among all MIAC teams and tied for 15th-fewest among all NCAA Division III teams.

The MIAC Rookie of the Year in the 2022-23 season, Stepan has played in 82 games in her collegiate career, with 32 goals (t-12th in school history) and 35 assists (t-12th) for 67 career points (12th), a plus-62 plus-minus rating (2nd), nine power-play goals and nine game-winning goals. She has had a goal or assist in 22 of Augsburg's 29 games this season.