Nine Join Falcon Women's Hockey Team
March 22, 2007

Nine student-athletes have decided to attend UW-River Falls this fall and compete with the Falcon women's hockey team.

"I am very excited about this recruiting class," said Falcon Coach Joe Cranston, who was named the NCHA Coach of the Year in 2007. "We are bringing in two top goalies in Cassi Campbell and Kate Wilson. We added a little scoring punch with the four forwards. I expect all three freshmen defenders to play right away and have an impact."

Campbell is from Anchorage, Alaska and played with the Toronto Rattlers last year. Wilson is from West Vancouver, B.C., and played with the Pacific Storm last season.

The defenders include Kayleigh Bell from Stillwater, Minn. She scored four goals and 22 points for the Ponies last season. Lauren Conrad is from Centerville, Minn., and played at Centennial High School where she scored nine goals and 20 points. Bailie Vikstrom is from Burnsville, Minn., and she scored four goals and 25 points for the Blaze.

Ashly Berner is a forward from Plymouth, Minn. She played at Armstrong High School and scored 15 goals and 34 points in 2006-07. Forward Jamie Briski is from Chisholm, Minn., and at Hibbing/Chisholm High School last year she scored 28 goals and 45 points. Brittany Erickson is from Rochester, Minn. She played at Mayo High School where she scored nine goals and 22 points for the Spartans last year. Jessi Thompson played at Mounds View High School last year and she scored 13 goals and 32 points. She is from Shoreview, Minn.

"Overall we have more depth at every position next year," said Cranston. "With this group of freshmen, added to an excellent group of returnees, I believe we will have a great deal of success not only next year but in the years to come."

The 2006-07 Falcons finished 14-9-4 overall and just one point out of first place in the final NCHA standings. The Falcons finished 9-4-2 in NCHA play.

Joe Cranston