Complete All-MIAC Women's Hockey Team

WINONA, Minn. — Nicole Olson (New Brighton, Minn.) could not have written a better final chapter to her Saint Mary's University collegiate career, as the senior scored two goals — including the game-winner in the third period — and assisted on SMU's other goal, as the Cardinals closed out the 2011-2012 season with a 3-2 win over playoff-bound Bethel.

Thursday, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference wrote a fitting and well-deserved epilogue, naming Olson honorable-mention All-MIAC.

Olson wasn't the only Cardinal honored by the MIAC, as freshman Breanna Peterson (Macomb, Mich.) joined her senior teammate on the honorable-mention All-MIAC team.

Gustavus senior Allie Schwab was named MIAC Player of the Year, while Rachel Geng earned the Sheila Brown Award and Concordia's Brett Bruininks was tabbed the conference's Coach of the Year.

With her three points in SMU's season-ending 3-2 win over Bethel, Olson closed out the season with a team-best 16 points. Olson also shared the team lead in assists (9), while adding seven goals. Her two-goal season-ending effort against Bethel marked the second tie this season Olson had scored two or more goals in a game. She recorded her first collegiate hat trick and her first collegiate five-point game in SMU's 5-3 win over St. Norbert on Nov. 4.

Olson, who led the team in scoring in each of her last three seasons, closed out her collegiate career ranking in the top 10 in all three offensive categories: points (8th, 66), goals (7th, 32) and assists (10th, 34).

While Olson was busy closing out a stellar four-year collegiate career, Peterson was kicking off what promises to be a stellar career of her own.

The freshman forward shared the team lead in goals with eight, while adding six assists for 14 points. Peterson closed out the season scoring a goal in four of SMU's last seven games, while also compiling her first collegiate multiple-goal and multiple-point game with two goals and an assist in SMU's 5-3 win over St. Norbert on Nov. 4.

As part of the conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC also announced the sixth annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for women's hockey, which included SMU's Olson.