March 8, 2003

The College Hockey America Women's league held its awards banquet on Friday, March 7, 2003, in downtown Detroit at the Marriott Courtyard.

Niagara University senior forward Valerie Hall (Niagara Falls, Ont.) was selected as the CHA Player of the Year and also the Student-Athlete of the Year.

Joining Hall on the CHA First Team were Wayne State University junior goaltender Anna VanderMarliere (St. Clair Shores, Mich.), Mercyhurst College senior goaltender Tiffany Ribble (Redford, Mich.), NU junior defenseman Bradi Cochrane (Harriston, Ont.), MC senior defenseman Jennifer Jeffrey (Zurich, Ont.), MC senior forward C.J. Ireland (Alliston, Ont.), and MC sophomore forward Sara McDonald (Menominee, Mich.).

Second Team All-CHA selections as voted by the head coaches were WSU sophomore defenseman Krissy Langley (Minnetonka, Minn.), MC senior defenseman Randi Pilger (Port Elgin, Ont.), MC junior defenseman Britney Millar (Kingston, Ont.), University of Findlay senior forward Melissa Oliver (Hickson, Ont.), UF sophomore forward Heidi Tallqvist (Turku, Finland), and NU sophomore forward Teresa Marchese-Del Monte (Brampton, Ont.).

Named to the CHA All-Rookie team were WSU forward Emily McGrath-Agg (N. Westminster, B.C.), UF forward Michelle Hickley (Cornwall, Ont.), MC forward Samantha Shirley (Mississauga, Ont.), UF defenseman Hilary Foord (Onanole, Man.), MC defenseman Danielle Lansing (Red Deer, Alb.), and UF goalie Jessica Moffat (Maxville, Ont.).

Mercyhurst's Samantha Shirley was voted CHA Rookie of the Year, while Laker head coach Mike Sisti was named Coach of the Year.

The CHA semifinals take place tomorrow (March 8) at City Ice Arena. Wayne State (No. 4 seed) plays Mercyhurst (No. 1 seed) at 1 p.m., followed by Niagara (No. 2 seed) skating against Findlay (No. 3 seed) at 4 p.m. Sunday's championship game is slated for 1 p.m.