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Senior Goalie Finalists Announced

By LPH, 04/07/21, 5:00PM CDT

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The five finalists for the senior goalie of the year award have been announced.

The finalists will vie for title of Senior Goalie of the Year, which will be announced April 6. 

The finalists are: Brynn DuLac of Minnetonka, Carly Greene of Benilde-St. Margaret's, Alexandra Pellicci of Prior Lake, Maria Widen of Burnsville, and Abbie Thompson of Mounds View.

Brynn DuLac - Minnetonka (14-3-3/1.17/.946)

DuLac, at 5'9" is a physical presence in the crease and combines great skill with her size. This season she has posted a .946 save percentage and has helped lead her team back to the state tournament where they have finished third in Class AA the past two seasons. Both years she was a member of the all-tournament team. She is in her third year as the varsity starter and has won 47 games over that span, including 15 shutouts.

"Brynn is an extremely bright, responsible and mature young woman," noted Minnetonka head Coach Tracy Cassano. "She leads through her calm but yet very competitive demeanor."

DuLac won 22 games last season and had eight shutouts while playing one of the toughest schedules in the state.

"She consistently makes the saves she should," said Cassano. "We rely on her to shut the door at critical times when she makes spectacular saves. Her rock solid play between the pipes gives our team an edge because of the confidence it instills in all of our players knowing she is our goaltender."

DuLac is headed to Cornell next season to play hockey. She is also an excellent student with a 3.986 grade point average (GPA) and has been on the A Honor Roll every quarter of her high school career. She is also a 4-year member of the school's lacrosse team.

Carly Greene - Benilde St. Margaret's (10-4-3/1.09/.946)

Greene has won 10 games this season and seven of them have come by shutout. She has posted an impressive 1.09 goals against average and has allowed just 19 goals in 17 games played. A varsity player for five years, she has started more than 100 games for BSM.

"The backbone of every hockey team is the goaltender," said BSM Head Coach Shjon Podein. "Carly has been the backbone of the Benilde-St. Margaret's girls varsity hockey team for the past four years."

Greene has posted 13 shutouts in her career and has a career save percentage of .922. Like Minnetonka, BSM plays a tough schedule, and Greene has been up to the challenge. During a stretch this season they played Minnetonka and Edina twice and Breck in a five-game span. Greene allowed just four goals and had a .968 save percentage.

"Carly comes to practice with a smile on her face and ready for the hard work necessary to improve her skills," said Podein. "When it comes to game time, that's when she shines."

Greene is a multi-sport athlete and is captain of the girls’softball team where she has been a pitcher for five years. She is also an excellent student and posted a score of 33 on her ACT. She will further her hockey career next season at Sacred Heart University.

Alexandra Pellicci - Prior Lake (2-15-0/3.23/.920)

Pellicci, like DuLac, is a physical presence in the net, and despite her team only recording two wins during the season, she faced more shots than any of the top five finalists and posted an impressive .920 save percentage.

Pellicci transferred to Prior Lake from Holy Family School, where she even played a couple games for the boys' squad, winning both games. She also attended the Team USA Development Camp in 2018 and the Team USA National Camp in 2019. 

"Alex is a coach's dream," said Prior Lake Head Coach Kiersten Nelson. "She has an incredible work ethic and has stepped into a leadership role within our program very quickly. She is a dedicated student-athlete. She is dedicated to her studies, her team, and getting better every day in and day out."

Pellicci ranks 48th in her senior class with a 4.112 GPA and will attend Harvard next year where she will further her hockey career.

Abbie Thompson - Mounds View (10-8-0/2.10/.937)

Like Pelicci, Thompson has faced a ton of shots not just this year, but over her career at Mounds View. In fact she has faced 2,148 in her four years as a varsity player and in her last game this season eclipsed 2,000 saves, finishing with 2,001.  

"The amount of shots she has faced proves she is one of the best if not the best and most counted on goalie in the state," said Mounds View Head Coach Garrett Windle. "Many games we win within a one goal margin and games we lose are always within reach and we are only able to say that due to her determination and abilities."

Windle said Thompson is a great and competitive practice player and it leads to results in the team's games.

"She is very technically sound with great athletic abilities," he said. "She is a very strong, driven competitor who is sharp between the ears and this makes it easy for her to stay competitive."

Thompson is a three-sport athlete, also competing in softball and volleyball. She also boasts a 3.97 GPA. She plans to play hockey in college but is currently undecided.

Maria Widen - Burnsville (16-3-1/1.44/.929)

Widen helped lead Burnsville to a 16-win season and posted solid numbers with a 1.44 goals against average and a .929 save percentage. In her career she was won 37 games in net. She didn't get the starting nod until she was a junior, having played behind a former all-state goalie. But she was voted captain as a junior, showing her leadership skills in addition to her goaltending skills.

"Maria means everything to this team," said Burnsville Head Coach Chris Lepper. "She brings a calm presence to practice and games. She is 100 percent focused on team success over achievement of herself. She is the ultimate team player."

Widen was the Hobey Baker Award winner for her team this season and won her team's MVP award as a junior despite missing seven games with an illness. She came back, however, and led her team to the Class AA State Tournament. 

"Not only is Maria a great teammate, excellent student, and a school ambassador through the Burnsville Strong program, she is a great human being," said Lepper. "You would find it hard pressed to find another goaltender that cares more about her teammates and other people than Maria Widen."

Widen plans to play hockey at Gustavus next season. In addition to her hockey skills, she gets it done in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA.

Finalists for the Senior Goalie of the Year Award

Player
Team
2021 Stats
College Commit
Brynn Dulac Minnetonka 14-3-3/1.17/.946 Cornell
Carley Greene Benilde-St. Margaret's 10-4-3/1.09/.946 Sacred Heart
Alexandra Pelicci Prior Lake 2-15-0/3.23/.920 Harvard
Abbie Thompson Mounds View 10-8-0/.2.10/.937 Undecided
Maria Widen Burnsville 16-3-1/1.44/.929 Gustavus

The winner o the Senior Goalie of the Year Award will be announced April 6.

The Senior Goalie of the Year Award is based on nominations from high school coaches and is selected based on votes from a panel of high school coaches and Division I and III women's college coaches.  The award is based on the following criteria: academics, community/extracurricular activities, citizenship, coachability and, of course, on-ice performance.

Previous winners include: Anna LaRose of North Wright County (2020), Calla Frank of White Bear Lake (2019), Alexa Dobchuk of Eden Prairie (2018), Breanna Blesi of Maple Grove (2017), Jenna Brenneman of Breck (2016), Frances Marshall of Thief River Falls (2015), Erin O'Neil of Hopkins (2014), Sydney Rossman of Minnetonka (2013), Erika Allen of Roseville (2012), Julie Friend of Minnetonka (2011), Kallie Billadeau of Hopkins (2010), Laura Bellamy of Duluth (2009), Alyssa Grogan of Eagan (2008), Ashley Nixon of Blaine (2007), Alannah McCready of Centennial (2006), Johanna Ellison of Cloquet/Esko/Carlton (2005), Emily Brookshaw of Hill-Murray (2004), Robin Doepke of Chaska (2003), Amber Hasbargen of Warroad (2002), Jody Horak of Blaine (2001), Shari Vogt of River Lakes (2000) and Katie Beauduy of Blaine (1999).

The award is sponsored by Let's Play Hockey, the Minnesota Wild and True Hockey.