Senior defenseman Angela Ruggiero, co-captain of the Harvard women’s hockey team, has been named one of three finalists for the 2004 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given annually to the most valuable player in women’s college hockey by The USA Hockey Foundation. The two other finalists are Northeastern goaltender Chandra Gunn and Minnesota-Duluth forward Jenny Potter, both seniors.

Ruggiero, a two-time Olympian, has been nominated for the award in each of her four seasons at Harvard, and along with Potter was a top-three finalist last season.

The odds-on favorite to win the award this year, Ruggiero led the Crimson to the ECAC regular season championship and No. 2 ranking this year. She ranks ninth in the nation with 1.82 points per game, posting 51 on the season, and ranks eighth in goals per game with 23 and sixth in assists per game with 28.

Ruggiero also ranks first in the nation amongst defenseman in ever category, and registered at least one point in 23 straight games this season en route to being named Ivy Player of the Year and being named First Team All-Ivy for the fourth time in her storied career.

Junior Nicole Corriero was named to the Top-10 finalists list but was not chosen to move on to the award’s final stage.

In the six-year history of the Kazmaier Award, a Harvard player has taken home the honor three times. A.J. Mleczko won the award in 1999, and Jennifer Botterill ’02-’03—the only two-time winner—won in 2001 and 2003.

The Kazmaier Award winner will be announced Saturday, March 27, on the eve of the National Championship in Providence, RI.