TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete
Sarah Daniel has been selected to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine National Academic All-America Women's University Division At-Large Third Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). A junior ice hockey player, Daniel is Rensselaer's seventh National Academic All-American this season.
A native of Calgary, Alb., Daniel carries a 3.96 cumulative grade point average as an aeronautical engineering and mechanical engineering dual major. A member of the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Athletic Board, she earned an academic citation for outstanding work in Fundamentals of Flight. She is also a member of the Pi Tau Sigma International Mechanical Engineering Honor Society and a recipient of a Rensselaer Leadership Award. She also volunteers with Learn-to-Skate and as a coach with various youth teams.
The Engineers' captain, Daniel was second on the team in goals with 14 and assists with 11 for a team-best 25 points. A forward, she ranked 23rd nationally in goals per game (0.54) and 41st in points per game (0.96). She had two power play goals, one shorthanded goal, two game-winning markers and a game-tying goal. Daniel tallied at least one point in 18 games in helping RPI post an 18-6-2 record in its first season on the Division I level. She also had eight penalties for 16 minutes.
During her career, Daniel has 41 goals and 32 assists for 73 points in 80 games. She has been the team's Most Valuable Player once and the recipient of the Scholar-Athlete Award twice.
Prior to attending Rensselaer, Daniel led the Springbank Rockies to the Provincial Championship in 2001 and the Bowness Bruins to a second place finish in 2002. She also participated in the Olympic Oval High Performance hockey program for three years, earning the All-Around Athlete of the Year in 1998 and 1999.
Joining Daniel as RPI's National Academic All-Americans this season are
Ed Sellitto and
Joe Johnson in men's soccer,
Jon Branche,
Grant Cochran and
Shawn Herrmann in football and diver
Greg Derevianko in men's at-large.
The Academic All-America At-Large Teams consist of participants in bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis and water polo. In order to be nominated, one must be a starter or an important reserve and have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average. He must have reached sophomore standing and must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's contests.