WINONA, Minn. — A year ago, Natalie Ryan (Village of Lakewood, Ill.) turned more than a few heads in her freshman season as a member of the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's hockey team—landing her on the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team at year's end.
 
And Ryan made sure there would be no sophomore slump this season, finishing as one of the conference's top defenseman, and earning her second MIAC post-season honor in as many seasons—being named honorable-mention All-MIAC, the conference office announced Monday.
 
Ryan wasn't the only Cardinal to earn a little MIAC post-season hardware, either, as she was joined on the honorable-mention All-MIAC team by Anya Hafiz (Woodbury, Minn.).
 
St. Thomas' Allison Borgstrom was named the MIAC's Player of the Year, while Natalie Darwitz was tabbed the conference's Coach of the Year, after guiding Hamline to the MIAC's regular-season title.
 
Ryan—who recorded three goals and added three assists for six points in 16 conference games as a freshman a year ago—picked right where she left off, delivering five goals and chipping in six assists for 11 points in 18 MIAC contests this season. Ryan appeared in all 25 games this season, scoring five goals and adding career highs in both assists (9) and points (14).
 
Hafiz, meanwhile, was the Cardinals' goal-scoring lead in MIAC play with seven, while adding a pair of assists to finish with nine points. Overall, the Cardinal sophomore finished second on the team with eight goals—equaling her career high—and added four assists for 12 points.
 
The MIAC also announced the 11th annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for women's hockey, which included Saint Mary's Ashley Corcoran (Red Wing, Minn.).