Hopkins (Minn.) defensemen Grace Bizal named to the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Girls Hockey Team. / Courtesy: Minnesota Girls Hockey Hub
USA TODAY High School Sports is proud to announce the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Girls Hockey Team. The team was compiled by David Darby, assistant sports editor for preps at the Detroit Free Press, with special thanks to Free Press sports writer George Sipple, the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., and state hockey coaches associations.
GIRLS PRESEASON ALL-USA HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY TEAM
FORWARDS
Samantha Davis
School: Tabor Academy (Marion, Mass.)
Year: Senior
Height: 5-5
Noteworthy: Shoots left. Scored 18 goals and 13 assists in 31 games last season. Alternate captain for the U.S. Under-18 Select team last summer. Captain of the field hockey, ice hockey and softball teams at Tabor. Hometown is Pembroke, Mass. Plans to attend Boston University.
Melissa Samoskevich
School: Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Faribault, Minn.)
Year: Senior
Height: 5-4
Noteworthy: Shoots left. Scored 26 goals and 31 assists in 40 games last season. Played defense until moving to forward as a sophomore. Plays on defense for the U.S. Under-18 National team. Hometown is Sandy Hook, Conn. Plans to attend Quinnipiac.
Taylor Williamson
School: Edina (Minn.)
Year: Senior
Height: 5-7
Noteworthy: Shoots left. Scored 29 goals and 19 assists in 24 games last season and has led Edina in scoring each of the past three years. Scored two goals and three assists in five games for Team USA at the Under-18 Women’s World Championships last spring. Plans to attend Minnesota.
Caitrin Lonergan
School: Noble & Greenough (Dedham, Mass.)
Year: Junior
Height: 5-7
Noteworthy: Shoots right. Scored 22 goals and 24 assists in 27 games last season for St. Paul’s (Concord, N.H.). Member of U.S. Under-18 World Championships (silver medal) last spring and U.S. Under-18 select team last summer. Hometown is Roslindale, Mass. Plans to attend Harvard.
Rebecca Gilmore
School: Noble & Greenough (Dedham, Mass.)
Year: Sophomore
Height: 5-6
Noteworthy: Shoots right. Scored 19 goals and 17 assists in 25 games last season. Scored three goals in three games for U.S. Under-18 select team vs. Canada last summer, and scored two goals and one assist in five games at the Under-18 Women’s World Championships last spring. Hometown is Wayland, Mass.
Nicole Unsworth
School: University School of Milwaukee (Wis.)
Year: Sophomore
Height: 5-6
Noteworthy: Shoots right. Scored 63 goals and 44 assists in 27 games last season, the most points in Wisconsin prep hockey — boys or girls. Attends Nicolet High School. Hometown is River Hills, Wis.
Grace Zumwinkle
School: Breck School (Golden Valley, Minn.)
Year: Sophomore
Height: 5-8
Noteworthy: Shoots right. Scored 23 goals and 14 assists in 28 games last season, including eight goals in three playoff games. Hometown is Excelsior, Minn. Plans to attend Minnesota.
DEFENSEMEN
Grace Bizal
School: Hopkins (Minn.)
Year: Senior
Height: 5-5
Noteworthy: Shoots left. Scored 12 goals and 19 assists in 24 games last season. Tallied three assists in five games at the Under-18 Women’s World Championships last spring. Strong skater who isn’t afraid to join the rush on offense. Plans to attend Boston College.
Lauren Boyle
School: Eden Prairie (Minn.)
Year: Senior
Height: 5-4
Noteworthy: Shoots left. Scored 14 goals and 15 assists in 30 games last season. Smooth-skating defenseman able to carry the puck end-to-end. Plans to attend Ohio State.
Sophie Skarzynski
School: Chicago Mission
Year: Senior
Height: 5-8
Noteworthy: Shoots left. Scored one goal and one assist in three games for U.S. Under-18 Select team last summer, and scored two goals in five games at the Under-18 Women’s World Championships last spring. Attends Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.). Hometown is Lake Forest, Ill. Plans to attend Minnesota.
Patricia Marshall
School: Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Faribault, Minn.)
Year: Junior
Height: 5-7
Noteworthy: Shoots right. Scored nine goals and 20 assists in 50 games last season. Member of U.S. Under-18 World Championships (silver medal) last spring and U.S. Under-18 Select team last summer. Hometown is Thief River Falls, Minn. Plans to attend Minnesota.
Mekenzie Steffen
School: Hill-Murray (Maplewood, Minn.)
Year: Junior
Height: 5-6
Noteworthy: Shoots right. Scored nine goals and 16 assists in 30 games last season for girls hockey state champions. Offense-minded defenseman is good skater and good with the puck. Hometown is White Bear Township, Minn. Plans to attend Wisconsin.
GOALIES
Brittany Bugalski
School: Loomis-Chaffee (Windsor, Conn.)
Year: Senior
Height: 5-8
Noteworthy: Catches left. Had a save percentage of .928 for the U.S. Under-18 select team last summer. Made 35 saves in a 1-0 playoff loss to eventual New England Prep School champion last season. Hometown is Lake Worth, Fla. Plans to attend Northeastern.
Emma May
School: Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.)
Year: Senior
Height: 5-6
Noteworthy: Catches left. Went 14-9 with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage last season. Hometown is Eagan, Minn. Plans to attend Minnesota.
Kerri St. Denis
School: St. Paul’s (Concord, N.H.)
Year: Senior
Height: 5-6
Noteworthy: Catches left. Allowed 24 goals in 1,048 minutes, compiling a .937 save percentage last season. Hometown is Auburn, Maine. Plans to attend Mercyhurst.