Senior Defenders Honored by USCHO
March 23, 2005 | Women's Hockey
Senior Wisconsin women's hockey defenders, Carla MacLeod and Molly Engstrom were honored by U.S. College Hockey Online this week when it announced its annual award recipients. Captain MacLeod was named the national Defensive Player of the Year as well as to the All-USCHO first team. Engstrom was selected for the All-USCHO second team.
A native of Calgary, Alberta, MacLeod was credited with leading the Badgers' defensive unit that ranked third nationally in scoring defense and surrendered just 55 total goals this season. Moreover, 25 of those goals came against the NCAA's top two seeds and Western Collegiate Hockey Association conference rivals Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth. With a +29 on-ice rating, MacLeod also earned honors in the WCHA when she was selected for the All-WCHA second team and the WCHA all-tournament team.
Named to the All-USCHO second team, Engstrom served as an assistant captain for the Badgers this season. Leading all defenders in scoring with 32 points (13-19=32) she also led the team on the power play collecting 19 points (11-8=19) and all but two of her goals while skating with the advantage. The Siren, Wis. native was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and was selected for the All-WCHA first team.
Both skaters were chosen as top-10 finalists for this year's Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award presented to the best player in women's college hockey each season. Though they have finished their playing days with the Badgers, both MacLeod and Engstrom will continue their hockey careers at the 2005 World Championships in Sweden in April. MacLeod will skate for Canada while Engstrom will don the USA jersey.
