Aurora University’s Matson and Concordia Wisconsin’s Van Hercke
Pick Up NCHA Women’s Hockey Weekly Honors
Aurora University sophomore Darci Matson (F - Wasilla, Alaska) is the NCHA Women’s Offensive Player of the Week and Concordia University Wisconsin senior Annalina Van Hercke (G - Castle Rock, Colo.) is the NCHA Women’s Defensive Player of the Week honors, the league office announced Tuesday.
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Matson picks up her third career NCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors after a huge weekend on the ice. In a three-day stretch filled with offensive fireworks and team sweeps across the NCHA, Matson was unmatched with a 10-point series, recording six goals and four assists overall, tallying the game-winners in both outings during the weekend series at Finlandia. Matson had an eye-opening four goals and three assists in the 10-0 Friday contest - including her first goal just 42 seconds into the game - and then added two goals and an assist in the 7-0 series finale.
Van Hercke picks up her second career NCHA Defensive Player of the Week honors after a flawless pair of outings against Trine to help CUW move to 2-0 in NCHA play and a solid 4-1-1 overall. She started things out with 16 saves in a 3-0 win Friday and followed that up with a 20-stop effort in which the Falcons needed every one in claiming a 1-0 shutout victory over the Thunder. She finished with a perfect 1.000 save percentage, a 2-0 record, and 36 total saves in the impressive pair of outings.
2022-23 NCHA WEEKLY TOP PERFORMERS
Une Bjelland, Adrian
Bjelland totaled five points on the weekend. She netted a pair of goals with three assists and finished +6. She scored the game-winning goal in overtime shorthanded to complete the sweep over Marian.
Alyssa Heim, Marian
Heim netted a power-play goal in the third period of game two of a series against No. 7 Adrian to force overtime. The goal was her first time lighting the lamp as a Sabre.
Natalie Hogan, St. Norbert
Hogan had a monster week with three goals and six assists for nine points as St. Norbert swept Lawrence in an NCHA series and also tied UW-Stevens Point. Hogan set a school record with six points in Saturday’s 10-0 win over Lawrence, registering two points and four assists. Hogan had two assists for in Friday’s 8-1 win over Lawrence. She also posted a goal in Tuesday’s 3-3 tie at UW-Stevens Point.
Natalie Mackrell, Concordia Wisconsin
Mackrell scored two game-winning goals in a weekend sweep at Trine.
Abby Okon, Marian
In just the second start of her career, sophomore Abby Okon made 46 saves as Marian took a point from No. 7 Adrian. Okon allowed three goals in the overtime defeat with a .913 save percentage. She also made 16 saves in the final period of the opener of the series to finish the weekend with 62 saves and a .925 save percentage.
Samantha Steciak, Aurora
Steciak picked up her first collegiate shutout in AU’s 10-0 weekend opening win at Finlandia. Steciak stopped all eight shots sent her way.
Kathryn Truban, Adrian
Truban helped the Bulldogs to a weekend sweep over Marian over the weekend. She appeared in both games totaling three assists. She totaled seven shots on the weekend and finished +3.