Maric, Monkman, Kovacs named OUA All-Stars

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – Three members of the Brock Badgers women's rugby team are celebrating as they have been named OUA Sheils Division All-Stars.  Misha Maric (Toronto, Ont.), Holly Monkman (Cheltenham, Ont.) and Nicole Kovacs (Welland, Ont.) were named divisional All-Stars yesterday by Ontario University Athletics.

Maric, a sophomore eightman and a member of the Under-23 National team, lead the Badgers in scoring and was ninth in the OUA with 28 points.  This season Badgers head coach Peter Hughes also added kicking to Maric's duties and she developed into one of the top kickers in the league, including leading the province in penalty goals.

Monkman, a fifth-year flyhalf, earns her second career All-Star award.  The tenacious veteran has been a leader on the squad throughout her five years and is known for her hard work, tough attitude and smarts on the pitch.

Kovacs was a rock as a second row player for the Badgers and was rewarded for her consistent play with the first All-Star award in her fourth year.  Kovacs also has the distinction of being the only second row player named an OUA All-Star in 2010.

"These three players are all deserving of their All-Star awards," said Badgers head coach Peter Hughes.  "Our whole team worked hard throughout the year, but these three players went above and beyond, made sacrifices and lead this team all season.  It's great to see them recognized among the top players in Ontario."

In Hughes' first year at the helm the Badgers finished third in the Sheils Division with a record of 2-3 earning a play-off berth.  The Badgers fought hard in their postseason matchup, but ultimately fell to the No. 9 Waterloo Warriors in the OUA quarterfinals.