Gustavus women’s hockey sophomore goaltender Amanda DiNella (Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) has been selected to the 2017 NCAA Division III CCM Women’s Hockey All-American West First Team, by the American Hockey Coaches Association.
She becomes the 15th player, fifth sophomore, and first goalie in Gustavus Women’s Hockey history to earn the prestigious honor.
Coach Steve Carroll is the goalie coach for the Gustavus women’s hockey team.
DiNella, a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Team member, finished the regular season as the league’s goaltending champion, posting the MIAC-best save percentage (.947), goals against average (0.92), winning percentage (.813), and most shutouts with eight.
In 20 appearances and 17 starts, DiNella has compiled a record of 13-3-2. She owns an NCAA-best 1.08 goals against average and is tied for the most shutouts with eight. In addition, her .778 win percentage ranks eighth while her .944 save percentage ranks 13th. In 1,108:21 minutes played, DiNella has accumulated 329 saves and allowed just 20 goals on the season.
DiNella has backstopped a Gustavus defense that ranks sixth nationally in goals allowed per game (1.41). She is the first Gustie goaltender to post 13 wins since Lindsey Hibbard posted 16 wins in 2012-13 and is one shutout away from tying a program record of nine shutouts in a season, set by Breanna Scavo in 2007-08. DiNella has greatly exceeded her numbers from her freshman season, improving her win total from three to 13 while nearly cutting in half the number of goals allowed.
On March 10 at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, DiNella helped guide Gustavus to its first NCAA Tournament victory since 2013 as she registered a career-high 38 saves in the 3-2 NCAA Division II National Tournament first round win.
