Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Lund Named a Finalist for ECAC Best Forward of the Year
February 27, 2016 | Women's Ice Hockey
ALBANY, N.Y. - (2/26/16) - ECAC Hockey today announced the finalists for the 2016 Women's Best Forward Award. Three underclassmen - Taylar Cianfarano, Quinnipiac, Karlie Lund, Princeton & Cayley Mercer, Clarkson have each been nominated for the honor by the league's coaches. These three forwards each led their respective teams in scoring in conference action during the 2015-16 campaign.
Lund made an immediate impact in the league, becoming the first freshman to lead the conference in scoring since Cornell's Brianne Jenner topped all scorers in the 2010-11 season. She was recognized for her prolific performances throughout the season earning Rookie of the Month three times; Rookie of the Week five times; and Player of the Week on one occasion. In overall contests the Eden Prairie, MN native registered 37 points, leading the Tigers and ranking second nationally among her rookie counterparts at 1.28 points per game. She has tallied four game-winning goals, two game-tying goals and four power-play goals. Earning a plus-18 on-ice rating, she has won 62.8 percent of her face-offs.
Cianfarano led ECAC Hockey in goals (17), goals per game (0.81), plus-minus (+45) and hat tricks with two on the season. The three-time ECAC Hockey Player of the Week and one-time Player of the Month finished second in the league averaging 1.29 points per game in 21 league games. Her most memorable game came on Feb. 19 as she tallied four goals and added one assist for five points in the 9-0 win over Union to help the Bobcats clinch the league's regular-season title. Cianfarano's 27 overall goals are the third most in a single season in program history, while her 44 career goals are already good for the second most in program history.
Mercer led a potent Golden Knights offense in scoring for the second consecutive season. The Exeter, ONT native recently set a new career-high for points in a season with 45 on 23 goals and 22 assists, including recording 0.95 points per game in conference action. The junior assistant captain is ninth in the country in goals per game (0.93) and tied for 15th in points per game (1.29). She finished tied for second in league-play with 11 goals and has helped Clarkson to a nation's second-best current 16-game unbeaten streak (13-0-3).
The winner will be announced at the championship banquet next weekend.