BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its award honorees for the 2024-25 Women's Hockey season on Monday. A total of eight players from the Saint Mary's women's hockey team earned MIAC honors, marking the highest number in any season and the highest of any team this postseason.
 
To start off the celebrations, we want to recognize Allie Urlaub, the senior forward from Burnsville, Minnesota, for earning an honor that goes beyond just hockey. Urlaub received the Sheila Brown Award for Outstanding Citizenship in MIAC women's hockey. This prestigious award is given to a senior MIAC women's ice hockey student-athlete who has made a lasting impact on their team's success, excelled competitively, and demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
 
Urlaub has played in every game this season, scoring eight goals and adding 14 assists. She was a vital contributor to the Cardinals' offense, helping lead the team to the MIAC Semi-Final. Her season highlights include a career-best two goals against St. Scholastica on nine shot attempts and a season-high three assists against Concordia Wisconsin. In addition to receiving the Sheila Brown Award, Urlaub also earned MIAC Honorable Mention honors in consecutive seasons.

After being named MIAC Rookie of the Year last season, forward Sophia Paduano from Westby, Wisconsin, earned MIAC All-Conference honors for another standout season. 

The sophomore totaled 11 goals this season and 16 assists this year, leading the Cardinals and ranking fourth in the conference and first on the team in points with 27. Paduano formed a dynamic partnership with Urlaub on the front line, creating a great offensive threat. She recorded a season-high three goals against St. Catherine on six attempts and a career-best four assists against Dubuque.

For the first time in her career, senior forward Sidney Polzin from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, earned MIAC All-Conference honors. She led the team in goals this season, scoring 12, with a season-high two goals against Saint Benedict. Polzin also served as a key leader for the Cardinals, playing in every game this season.

Key defender Celia Midtbo from Minneapolis, Minnesota, earned her second consecutive MIAC All-Conference honors after another stellar season as a defensive powerhouse. Leading the team with 47 blocked shots, she also ranked third in the conference, consistently putting her body on the line. Midtbo was also a threat on offense, scoring nine goals this season, including a season-high two goals against Dubuque.
 
Sophomore forward Reese Heitzman from Hermantown, Minnesota, earned her second postseason award this season with MIAC Honorable Mention honors. Heitzman led the team with 12 goals, playing in every game and adding 10 assists. As a key member of the Cardinals first line of offense alongside Paduano and Urlaub, she was part of an unstoppable trio that posed a serious threat to opponents.
 
Senior Kas Kingston from Black Diamond, Alberta, was another key defensive player alongside Midtbo. She earned MIAC Honorable Mention honors for the second time in her career. Kingston played in all 27 games this season, recording 38 blocks—the second most on the team—helping prevent opponents from scoring and playing part of an unbreakable duo of defending that put the Cardinals fifth in the conference for goals allowed.
 
After recording a career-best three shutouts this season, freshman Magali Fillion earned MIAC Honorable Mention honors as the Cardinals' goalie. Hailing from Quebec, Canada, Fillion played a pivotal role in the team's success this year. In her first career start, she posted a shutout against nationally ranked UW-Eau Claire. In a crucial matchup for the Cardinals, Fillion delivered another standout performance, shutting out fifth-ranked Gustavus and helping the team secure a series split.
 
In the Gustavus matchup, Fillion recorded a career-high 37 saves and achieved a .938 save percentage, ranking fourth in the conference.
 
To complete the honors, Celeste Rimstad, the junior goaltender from Richfield, Minnesota, earned MIAC All-Playoff Team recognition for her standout performances that helped lead her team to the MIAC Semi-Final.
 
Rimstad delivered one of the best performances of her career in the MIAC Semi-Final game against second-ranked Augsburg, where she played the full 128:06 minutes of what became the longest Division III women's hockey game in history where she recorded an impressive career-high 59 saves. Although the team did not win, they wouldn't have even been in a position to compete without her exceptional performance.
 
It was another outstanding season for the Cardinals, as they finished with a 16-11-0 overall record and a 10-8-0 mark in conference play, securing the fourth seed in the MIAC playoffs.
 

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Gustavus forward Lily Mortenson was selected by MIAC head coaches as the Offensive Player of the Year, while Augsburg defender Nora Stepan was voted Defensive Player of the Year. St. Catherine forward Ana Myers was named the Women's Hockey Rookie of the Year, and Saint Mary's forward Allie Urlaub was honored with the Sheila Brown Award for outstanding citizenship in MIAC women's hockey. St. Olaf head coach Tracy Johnson was recognized by her peers with Coach of the Year honors.