Five Student-Athletes Named to All-CHA Teams

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Niagara women’s hockey team placed five Purple Eagles onto All-College Hockey America (CHA) teams, highlighted by senior defenseman Erica Owczarczak earning First Team All-CHA honors.

Owczarczak earns First-Team All-CHA honors for the first time in her career after having a solid season for the Purple Eagles. The West Seneca native is tied for third in the conference among defensemen in goals (5) and points (14) and eighth in defensemen assists (9). Owczarczak was named CHA Offensive Player of the Week after tallying the game winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Colgate.

Sophomore goalie Sarah Moses and freshman defenseman Kelsey Gunn were selected to the All-CHA Second Team and freshman forward Kayla Raniwsky and freshman goalie Abby Ryplanski were named to the All-Rookie Team.

Moses, who was named conference goaltender of the week two times this season, ranks third in the conference in win percentage (.441) and fourth in saves with 435. Her 3.13 goals-against average (GAA) places her 33rd nationally. The New Hamburg, Ont. native also tallied the CHA Goaltender of the Month award after ending January with a 2.85 goals-against average, good for 29th nationally and had an overall .899 save percentage; good for 33^rd nationally.

Gunn ranks fourth among CHA freshman in scoring and 10th in the CHA, fourth among CHA freshmen, in assists. The Smith Falls, Ont. native was named CHA Rookie of the Week after making key offensive contributions during the series against then-No.5/5 Mercyhurst. She tallied a three-point weekend, earning her second career goal and contributed two helpers.

Raniwsky is sixth on the team with 13 points, while tied for seventh in assists (7) and fifth in goals (6). The two-time CHA Rookie of the Week honoree this season is ranked 15th in the CHA in scoring. Her shorthanded tally of the season came in the final regular season game against Syracuse.

Ryplanski was named to the All-Rookie Team after finishing the regular season ranked 20th nationally in GAA (2.32), 23rd in save percentage (.913) and 26th in winning percentage (.406). The Winnipeg, MB native has earned two CHA Goalie of the Week awards this season with the latest coming on Nov. 11 after a superb weekend in net against Colgate. She stopped 43 of 44 shots and earned her first career shutout during Niagara’s 1-0 victory.

Niagara also won the Team Sportmanship Award, for accumulating the fewest amount of penalty minutes throughout the season.

The No. 3 Purple Eagles will clash with the No. 2 Robert Morris Colonials on Friday at 3:45 p.m., with the winner playing in the CHA Championship game at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

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