MIAC Release

St. PAUL, MINN. – The St. Catherine University hockey team was one of the top defensive teams in the nation throughout the 2015-16 season. This week, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) recognized the team for their efforts, as three defensive players earned either MIAC All-Conference or All-Conference Honorable Mention honors. Goalie Kristen Pechacek (Park Falls, Wis. / Chequamegon) and defensive leader Mallory Ryan (Cottage Grove, Minn. / Park) were named to the MIAC All-Conference team, while Randi Fabsits (Tinley Park, Ill. / Victor J. Andrew) earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors for the third consecutive year, the conference office released on Thursday.

Pechacek garnered her first MIAC All-Conference honors after anchoring the St. Kate's defense throughout the 2015-16 season. In 13 games and 749:58 minutes of play, Pechacek posted a 4-5-4 record with all of her wins coming against MIAC opponents. During those games, she made 429 saves while only allowing 18 goals, the fewest in the MIAC. Pechacek finished the year as the MIAC leader in save percentage and goals against average (GAA), and was fifth in the conference in saves. Compared to other Division III goalies, Pechacek was ranked in the top ten in several categories, including save percentage and GAA. Her save percentage of .960 was the second best in the country, and Pechacek finished the season ranked ninth in the country with a 1.36 GAA.

In addition to Pechacek, Ryan was also a key part of the Wildcats defensive wall and earned her first All-Conference honor for her efforts. The senior led the team in scoring with seven goals and five assists for 12 points total, and was tied for third among defenseman in the MIAC in scoring. Ryan's two game-tying goals not only led the team, but also the conference, as she was one of St. Kate's top offensive weapons from the blue line.  Ryan also earned MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition as a sophomore in 2013-14 and earned Academic All-MIAC honors as a junior last season.

Fabsits finished her career at St. Kate's by being named MIAC-All Conference Honorable Mention for the third consecutive year after proving she was once again on of the top defenders in the conference. The senior ended her final season fourth on the team in scoring and tied for eleventh among defenseman in the conference with one goal and six assists for seven total points. Fabsits helped the Wildcats earn their first conference win of the season by scoring the game winning goal against St. Olaf and recorded assists in wins over the Oles, Saint Benedict, and Hamline.

The final Wildcat to earn recognition was senior forward Annie Buttermore (Grant, Minn. / Mahtomedi), who was named to the 2016 MIAC All-Sportsmanship Team. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. Buttermore is now a two time member of the All-Sportsmanship Team, after being named to it in 2013-14. She was a key contributor to St. Kate's hockey, not only as a senior, but throughout her career as well. During her four years as a Wildcat, Buttermore played in 100 games, scoring 18 goals with 20 assists for a grand total of 38 points.