Women’s Ice Hockey Duo Grabs All-CNE, O’Neil Scholar-Athlete

CNE RELEASE 

BEVERLY, Mass. – Suffolk women's hockey saw multiple student-athletes recognized by the Conference of New England (CNE) as the pair of Leslie Steiner and Bella Schmidt earned All-CNE and Lily O'Neil was named CNE Scholar-Athlete, the league office announced Wednesday. 

The All-CNE accolades are a first for Suffolk's seven-year old program since the 2022-23 season. The distinctions come on the heels of a 10-16-1 overall campaign that saw the Rams make the league's postseason field for the first time under second-year head coach Abby Ostrom's guidance. She led the blue-and-gold to the semifinals for the second time in the CNE era (formerly CCC) and third time in program history.  

Steiner received her third all-league distinction, second first-team nod and first award since 2022-23 thanks to 10-point senior season with three goals and seven assists and a plus-10. The defender from Janesville, Wisconsin became the youngest defender in the Rams' history to earn a spot on the first-team two seasons ago, and is now just the second-ever blue line skater in Suffolk's annals to receive two first-team nods, joining Madison Duff. Steiner and Duff are also the only defensemen in the blue-and-gold's record books to receive three all-conference awards in their collegiate career.  

Schmidt, who hails from Woodbury, Minnesota, picked up her first all-league honor with a spot on the second-team. The sophomore paced Suffolk's 75-goal offense with 10 goals and eight assists. She potted one game-winner and netted her first collegiate hat trick in the same game, a 4-2 triumph over Nichols, Jan. 25.  

O'Neil, a fifth-year captain, took home the Scholar-Athlete award, which is presented to a student-athlete who is either graduating or has exhausted their eligibility and has excelled both on the ice and in the classroom.  

Athletically, O'Neil was a usual netminder for the blue-and-goal throughout her collegiate career. She assembled a 2.09 GAA and .925 save percentage with 1,483 career saves, the first and only women's goaltender in the Rams record books with 1,000 saves to their credit.  

Academically, the Abington, Massachusetts, native compiled a 3.925 GPA in her first semester of grad school, while working towards her Masters degree in Mental Health and Counseling That is after she completed her undergraduate career with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a cumulative 3.978 GPA. She is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree en route to become the first Ram in Suffolk women's ice hockey history to receive the academic accolade from the conference.  

In addition to the all-league accolades, the conference handed out the CNE Community Service Team award, which is presented to a student-athlete on each squad that demonstrates a commitment to their community. Suffolk's honoree is assistant captain Kate Pohl.  

Suffolk has collected 30 all-league honors: two player of the year, one rookie of the week, three coach of the year, one scholar-athlete, eight first-team honors, eight second-team selections, a pair of third-team picks and four all-rookie team members. Over half of those accolades have come in the CNE era with two players of the year, two coach of the year, one scholar-athlete, seven first-team and five second-team.  

2025 CNE WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY AWARDS
Player of the Year - Samantha Fantasia, Endicott
Goalie of the Year - Rachel Irving, WNE
Rookie of the Year - Mabel Gerard, WNE
Scholar Athlete of the Year - Lily O'Neil, Suffolk
Coach of the Year - Andrew McPhee, Endicott 

ALL-CNE FIRST-TEAM
F - Grayson Goolgasian, Curry
F - Samantha Fantasia, Endicott
F - Teaghan Hall, Endicott
F - Danielle Reid, Curry
D - Alexa Paoli, WNE
D - Leslie Steiner, Suffolk
D - Hannah Humes, UNE
G - Rachel Irving, WNE 

ALL-CNE SECOND-TEAM
F - Mabel Gerard, WNE
F - Rivers Morris, Endicott
F - Bella Schmidt, Suffolk
D - Lilly Corso, Endicott
D - Anneliese Klein, Nichols
G - Casey Moritz, Endicott 

COMMUNITY SERVICE TEAM
Anna Kahl, Curry
Jenna Seibold, Endicott
Harmony Chicoose, Johnson & Wales
Avery Moriarty, Nichols
Kate Pohl, Suffolk
Julia Weiner, UNE
Emma Birmingham, WNE