By Mike Walsh
Correspondent
The 2023-2024 college hockey season has been memorable thus far for Evergreen Park resident Abbey Murphy.
Murphy, a Mother McAuley graduate who is a junior at Minnesota, was named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s Forward of the Month for November and December.
In November, Murphy tallied six goals and three assists — including two power-play goals, one shorthanded goal and one game-winning goal — as she helped the Golden Gophers win six games that month.
In December, she scored six goals in five games and finished the month with 10 points. In a two-game series against visiting Bemidji State (Minnesota), in which the Gophers posted 9-2 and 9-1 victories, the redshirt junior had four goals and four assists while also finishing with a plus-7.
In a 5-3 triumph at home over Wisconsin on Dec. 8, Murphy scored twice to reach the 100-point mark for her collegiate career.
This season, Murphy leads NCAA Division I with 33 goals to go with 26 assists in 37 games. She has nine power-play goals, seven game-winning goals and two shorthanded goals.
Last weekend, Murphy had two assists in the Golden Gophers 3-0 win over Minnesota State to earn a spot in the WCH tournament title game against Wisconsin. That game is scheduled for March 8.
Minnesota was ranked fifth in the NCAA women’s hockey’s most recent rankings.
Bison Baller
Bucknell football player Sean Quarterman has been chosen to the 2023 Academic All-District Team, selected by the College Sports Communicators.
Quarterman, who prepped at Marist, was also a recipient of the Tom Gadd Coaches’ Award for his contributions to the Bison football. This season, the senior offensive lineman played in 10 games and made eight starts.
For his career at Bucknell, the Chicagoan appeared in 24 games, making 13 starts.
In a Flash
Two area residents who play football at Kent State have been honored for their excellence in the classroom with places on the 2023 Fall Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team.
Lauded were sophomore wide receiver Trell Harris, a Nazareth graduate, and sophomore quarterback Tommy Ulatowski, a St. Rita graduate.
Harris played in 11 games this season for the Golden Flashes, making five starts. He tallied 26 receptions for 400 yards and one touchdown. Harris’ best game came in a 38-10 victory over Central Connecticut State in which he finished with three catches for 94 yards and a score.
Ulatowski appeared in 10 games, making three starts. He completed 60 passes in 121 attempts for 737 yards and seven touchdowns against two interceptions. His best game came in a 49-19 setback to Bowling Green which he passed for 284 yards and one score.
Another Flash player, senior defensive lineman CJ West, was named to the All-MAC Third Team after recording 40 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. West, a LaGrange Park resident and Nazareth graduate, paced Kent State in tackles for loss and tied for the team lead in sacks.
It’s Academic
Marist graduates Jimmy Rolder and Deuce McGuire have been named to the fall 2023 All-Academic Big Ten Team for football.
Rolder, a sophomore linebacker, finished with five tackles for national champion Michigan. The Orland Park resident appeared in six games.
McGuire, a sophomore offensive lineman for Northwestern, made his collegiate debut in the Wildcats’ 38-7 victory over visiting UTEP on Sept. 9.
Saints Be Praised
University of St. Francis (Joliet) women’s soccer player Anna Jakubiec was named to the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s All-Academic Team for fall 2023.
Jakubiec, an Argo graduate from Summit, earned the honor for the second time. The junior defender appeared in seven matches for the Saints last season.