Who Do You Think Should Win the Patty Kaz?

[ECCZamboni]

Right now, I'm just worried about BC. I'll leave the planning to you.

I don't know why you're worried. BC's goalie will have to play outstanding for them to have any kind of chance, IMO. And even then, it might not be enough. Look for the Lamoreux sisters to go to town on the Eagles.

[vellnueve]

I seem to remember someone saying that NU was going to get blown out of the building by PC as well..

[dave1381]

I don't think anyone disputes Agosta's talent. The question is whether she was the best player this season according to the criteria of the award. Fact is Mercyhurst played a weaker schedule than they had in the past. For Agosta to win this award, she really had to perform well in the few higher-end games Mercyhurst played. She had an exceptional weekend against SLU. But unfortunately, she was injured during the first month when Mercyhurst played some of its toughest competition and went 4-4, and Agosta was less than 100%. The only real top-flight competition thereafter was against SLU and UConn. Meghan dominated against SLU, and everyone after that series thought it was an award-worthy weekend. But then on paper she had a really subpar series against UConn, and no one who says "you need to watch her play" has told me anything to suggest she had a better series at UConn than the stats indicate. She had no margin for error to have anything less than a spectacular series at UConn, considering Mercyhurst's schedule and what Vetter had done by that point of the season.

[ECCZamboni]

I don't think anyone disputes Agosta's talent. The question is whether she was the best player this season according to the criteria of the award. Fact is Mercyhurst played a weaker schedule than they had in the past. For Agosta to win this award, she really had to perform well in the few higher-end games Mercyhurst played. She had an exceptional weekend against SLU. But unfortunately, she was injured during the first month when Mercyhurst played some of its toughest competition and went 4-4, and Agosta was less than 100%. The only real top-flight competition thereafter was against SLU and UConn. Meghan dominated against SLU, and everyone after that series thought it was an award-worthy weekend. But then on paper she had a really subpar series against UConn, and no one who says "you need to watch her play" has told me anything to suggest she had a better series at UConn than the stats indicate. She had no margin for error to have anything less than a spectacular series at UConn, considering Mercyhurst's schedule and what Vetter had done by that point of the season.

I'm guessing you'll be at the Frozen 4 and if Mercyhurst makes it to the national championship game, perhaps you will change your mind. As I said, Agosta may not fit all the criterior of the award and if she doesn't win it because of that, so be it. However that doesn't take away the fact that she has a target on her back everytime she steps on the ice and say what you want, this kid makes things happen (regardless of who the opponent is) when she's out there, many times single handedly.

[dave1381]

I'm guessing you'll be at the Frozen 4 and if Mercyhurst makes it to the national championship game, perhaps you will change your mind. As I said, Agosta may not fit all the criterior of the award and if she doesn't win it because of that, so be it. However that doesn't take away the fact that she has a target on her back everytime she steps on the ice and say what you want, this kid makes things happen (regardless of who the opponent is) when she's out there, many times single handedly.
I completely agree with your last sentence. I'm not sure how her Frozen Four performance is going to change my mind about anything. I fully expect her to be better in the Frozen Four (should she advance as far) than she was throughout the regular season. I don't think she quite played up to potential in the regular season against the toughest nonconference competition on Mercyhurst's schedule (save for St. Lawrence), due in large part to injuries the first 4 weekends, and that UConn weekend. But I'm not going to pretend she scored 3 points per game against these opponents either with Mercyhurst going 10-0 instead of 5-5 those games, even though I know she's capable of much better.

There are plenty of players who didn't win the Kaz, but have been the best player in the NCAA tournament, and maybe might have been the best player in the country considering the whole balance of the season. See Kim Martin last year, Sara Bauer in 2007, Natalie Darwitz in 2005, Krissy Wendell in 2004, Kristy Zamora in 2002, Maria Rooth in 2001. But that doesn't mean the Kaz voters were wrong. The Kaz is voted on before the NCAA tournament, so if an elite athlete takes her play to a higher level in the NCAA tournament, voters short of making full use of psychic visions, flux capacitors, and what not have no way of taking this into account. Unfortunately for such players, I don't believe any Kaz voters that have these tools at their disposal.

[RStarr]

There are plenty of players who didn't win the Kaz, but have been the best player in the NCAA tournament, and maybe might have been the best player in the country considering the whole balance of the season. See Kim Martin last year, Sara Bauer in 2007, Natalie Darwitz in 2005, Krissy Wendell in 2004, Kristy Zamora in 2002, Maria Rooth in 2001. But that doesn't mean the Kaz voters were wrongl.
Very well said...

[xwildfan]

Agosta looked pretty effective against the Gophs tonight.

[WHKY blogger]

Agosta looked pretty effective against the Gophs tonight.

I have to disagree.

Regardless it has no effect on this "award".

[dave1381]

I have to disagree.

How? She scored a bunch of pretty goals, she drew penalties all game. She took a bone-headed penalty at the end that nearly cost her team the game, but you take a little bad with the good sometimes. No real surprises here.

[quote]
Regardless it has no effect on this "award".
Indeed.

[Skate79]

Agosta is a female version of Phil Esposito. She doesn't create a lot of plays herself rather relying on her teammates. But she is tough around the net and has a great wrist shot as evidenced by her first goal.

While Agosta is good in her own zone, I think Erica Lawler is a better all around player. Lawler isn't afraid to go anywhere to get the puck and makes things happen for her teammates. And she is a terrific defensive player as well. She made a tremendous play last night to deny UMD a great scoring chance when her teammate was caught out of position.

All that said, my vote would go to Vetter. She made some great stops when the game was close last night including two beauties in close on UMD players who were on her doorstep. She is the real deal.

[BadgerFan11]

Vetter takes home the Kaz

VERY well deserved.

[ARM]

I agree. Not only a great hockey player on the ice, but conducts herself in an exemplary fashion off the ice as well. Congratulations on a great season and a wonderful career, and may you go on to receive many more awards and gold medals.:)

[DIGDOGS]

Excellent player and person. Class act.

[LakersFan]

Congratulations to Miss Vetter. A well deserved award. And as an old beer-league goalie, happy to see a netminder pick this award up.

[WHKY blogger]

Vetter is the second goaltender to win this award, following up Ali Brewer in 2000.

She is just the 3rd western player to win, following up Krissy Wendell in 05 and Sara Bauer in 2006.

Wisconsin becomes just the 2nd team with multiple patty winners.

Patty Count by School:

Harvard - 6 (5 different players)
Wisconsin - 2
Minnesota - 1
Northeastern - 1
Brown - 1
New Hampshire - 1

[vellnueve]

Good. Anything else and I would have been livid.

[Carter]

Patty Count by School:

Harvard - 6 (5 different players)
Wisconsin - 2
Minnesota - 1
Northeastern - 1
Brown - 1
New Hampshire - 1

Eastern bias!!!! ;)

[vellnueve]

More like a Harvard bias...

[Wildcatfan]

Vetter takes home the Kaz

VERY well deserved.

I totally agree. I would have been surprised if anyone else had won.

Congratulations to Jessie Vetter