The Retort

Richter Named Freshman of the Year Highlights Five All-Conference Selections

November 20th, 2009 by MSUB Athletics For The Retort

Montana State University Billings freshman forward, Jaucelyn Richter, continued her impressive inaugural campaign as she was selected Great Northwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, the conference office announced on November 10.

“Jaucelyn is very deserving of her honors as Freshman of the Year and first team all-conference,” head coach Don Trentham said. “She had a great freshman year and it is exciting to know she will be scoring goals for us the next three years.”

Richter, a native of Billings, led the team with 10 goals and tied for the team lead with eight assists on the year. She tied for second in the conference in scoring and finished third in goals. Her eight assists were good for a tie for first in the league. She was one of two freshmen to be named to the first team as Taylor Sawyer of Seattle Pacific also earned first team honors.

SPU’s Jocelyn Charette was named Player of the Year, while Chuck Sekyra of SPU and Rob Walker of Saint Martin’s were Co-Coaches of the Year. It was Sekyra’s fifth Coach of the Year award and Walker’s first on the women’s side. Walker also was named Coach of the Year for the men’s team. Rachelle Kliewer of Western Oregon was named Newcomer of the Year to round out the specialty awards.

League champion, SPU, placed a league-best five players on the first team, while Saint Martin’s and Western Washington had two each. MSUB, Central Washington and WOU each had one.

The Yellowjackets placed four players on the honorable mention team. Freshman Jennifer Larsen earned honorable mention honors as she finished third on the team in goals with eight and third in points with 19. Kari Foreman was second on the team in goals with nine and led the team and was second in the league in game winning goals with four.

Senior Chelsea Libby finished the year with eight assists to tie for the team lead and tied for first in the league in assists. Samantha Boehm played and started in all 20 games and led the team playing every minute this season. She tallied an assist in the final game of the season.

“It is rewarding to have five players named to the all-conference team,” added Trentham. “Their recognition is a testament to not only their individual performance over the season, but our team’s performance as well.”

The Yellowjackets finished the season with a 9-10-1 record and graduate just two players. MSUB potentially will return 22 of 24 players from this season.