Lewis Player of the Year, O'Malley Coach of the Year Highlight Seven Pioneers Named to NEWHA Post-Season Awards
2/19/2020 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
WINTHROP, MA.-The Sacred Heart University women's hockey team was well represented in the NEWHA postseason awards as the alliance tabbed seven Pioneers who received a postseason honor. Highlighting the selections is senior Jayne Lewis who was named NEWHA Player of the Year, while head coach Tom O'Malley was tabbed Coach of the Year for the Pioneers record breaking year.
This is the second NEWHA Coach of the Year Honor the Tom O'Malley has received in the past three seasons. He piloted the Pioneers to a program high 18-2 NEWHA Record while recording a program history win streak of 13. This season he has tallied a 21-10 overall record with the Pioneers averaging 3.16 goals a game and allowing just 2.48. Throughout his career at SHU ,coach O'Malley has tallied a record of 183-235-33 as he is in his 17th season at SHU.
Jayne Lewis was named to the First-Team as well as sophomore Kelly Solak, and senior Maddie Bishop. Sophomore Anna Klein, and senior Olivia Bryant were named the Second-Team while Alexa Ocel was named to the All-Rookie team and senior Gina Moriello was named to the All-Sportswomanship team.
Over the course of the regular season, Lewis led the Pioneers as she racked up a NEWHA leading 22 goals with 13 assists for a total of 35 points. She also led the NEWHA in game winning goals with eight on the year and during the year she recorded her first career hat-trick which came against Franklin Pierce on Nov. 13, 2019 which made her well deserving of her being named Player of the Year and All-NEWHA First-Team honors. She also became the leading scorer in program history with her last goal against Saint Michael's as her career point total reached 140.
Sophomore Kelly Solak picked up her first All-NEWHA First-Team honors as she tallied five goals, and 13 assists for 19 points. She was ranked fifth in the NEWHA in defensemen scoring and tallied career highs in all three categories. Solak earned All-NEWHA Second Team honors a year ago.
Senior Maddie Bishop had a career year in her final season as she tallied 11 goals, 19 assists for 30 points. Bishop ranked tied for fourth in NEHWA in assists this season and recorded three game-winning goals for the Pioneers this season.
During her standout sophomore season, Anna Klein tallied 14 goals, 10 assists for 24 points to her credit on her way Second-Team honors. She was seventh in NEWHA in goals this season tallied her first career hat-trick that came against Saint Michael's on Feb. 14.
Senior Olivia Bryant picked up NEWHA Second-Team honors for her impressive defensive play as she tallied four goals, seven assists for 11 points in her senior season. She also tallied one power-play, and empty net foal this season as well.
First-year Alexa Ocel had a breakout season as she recorded five goals, 11 assists for 16 points which led all the freshman for the Pioneers this season which led her to receive All-Rookie team honors. She picked up her first Rookie of the Week honors a day before as she tallied three assists in the teams weekend regular season finale sweep of Saint Michael's.
Senior Gina Moriello has been a long-time leader as a backup goaltender for the Pioneers and was named the All-Sportswomanship team this year as she played in three games for the Pioneers racking up two saves and no allowing a single goal. She has played in a total of five games her career and has recorded seven saves and allowed no goals.
SHU will face off against against a team to be determined in the semifinal round of the NEWHA Tournament on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. puck-drop.
