The University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team announced its 2003-04 team captains and individual award winners last weekend at their end-of-the-year banquet.
The Badgers, who finished with their best winning percentage in school history with a record of 22-8-5, took third-place in the WCHA Final Five after knocking off Ohio State 4-1 March 8.
Head coach Mark Johnson, a finalist for national coach of the year, named sophomore defender Carla MacLeod captain of the 2003-04 team, with junior forwards Meghan Hunter and Steph Miller garnering assistant captains honors.
Senior defender Sis Paulsen took home the defensive player of the year award, leaving UW as the WCHA’s all-time leader in points among defenders with 130. The senior captain was also presented with her second consecutive Jeff Sauer award, which recognizes the player who dedicates herself most to her team and to the game.
Paulsen and freshman Katie Temple also shared the Badger Award, which is an honor given to the player who inspires other teammates through their commitment on the ice.
Offensive player of the year went to forward Kendra Antony, Wisconsin’s all-time leader in points with 159. The senior from Saskatchewan finished the year third on the team in points with 25.
Freshman Sharon Cole, who played in 34 of the Badgers’ 35 games this season and notched 13 points, was presented with team’s rookie of the year award.
The end of the season also marked the end of the careers for the first senior class to come through the Wisconsin women’s hockey program.
Tough draw for 2003 soccer teams
After finishing the 2002 season 9-10 overall and 3-3 in Big Ten play, the UW men’s soccer team will have their hands full the 2003 season commences. Matchups with four NCAA tournament teams from a year ago ? New Mexico, UW-Milwaukee, Penn State and Indiana ? highlight the schedule for the Badgers, who will also compete in four tournaments next season.
The team will open up its season when they play host to the annual Rocky Rococo tournament August 29-31 at the McClimon Soccer Complex.
The women’s team, who finished runner-up in the Big Ten tournament last season, also announced that Wisconsin will host the 2003 women’s Big Ten soccer tournament. It marks the second time that the end of the year tournament has been held in Madison, which was the site of the inaugural Big Ten tournament in 1994. The Badgers won that tournament with a 3-0 win over Minnesota.
The women’s team will play 12 home games this season, including two exhibition contests.
A change in turf type at Camp Randall
The University of Wisconsin has decided that the new artificial surface that will be installed this summer in Camp Randall and in the McClain Center will be designed by Sportexe rather than FieldTurf, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday.
Sportexe, which traditionally installs turf for soccer fields and the Arena Football League, will cost the University about $320,000 less than the FieldTurf.
The decision by UW officials comes as somewhat of a surprise, as many college football teams with artificial turf have been using FieldTurf.
