SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 17, 2026) – Western New England women's ice hockey's Rachael Irving has been named the Conference of New England's (CNE) Elite 21 award recipient, the first Golden Bear in school and program history to receive the award. 

The Elite 21 award, one of the newest postseason awards presented by the CNE, is given to one student-athlete per sponsored CNE sport per season who has the highest grade point average (GPA) among student-athletes participating in the CNE Tournament. The criteria include being at least a sophomore academically, in good academic standing, and be in their second year of competition at their current institution in any sport. The student-athlete must be an active member on the roster and eligible for the CNE Tournament. Only undergraduate GPAs are applicable, and only credits earned at their current institution will be considered. Per the CNE, a student-athlete is only eligible to win the award once per academic year, even if they participate in more than one sport. 

With a perfect 4.0 GPA, WNE women's ice hockey's Rachael Irving, a sophomore pharmacy studies major, becomes the first student-athlete in program and Western New England Athletics history to be named the Elite 21 recipient. Irving tended the net in 25 of WNE's 27 games this season, logging over 1,500 minutes in net. Irving posted a 1.75 Goals Against Average (GAA) for the season and a 0.945 save percentage, leading the Blue and Gold to the CNE Championship game. Irving made 755 total saves on the year and now has 1,209 saves over her two seasons with Western New England. The Auburn, New Hampshire, native recorded a 17-7-1 record this season and gave up one goal or fewer in 13 games played on the year. 

Irving joins a slew of student-athletes from across the Conference of New England who have been honored this season as Elite 21 recipients. A full list of recipients is set to be released by the conference office in the coming weeks. 

The Western New England women's ice hockey team advanced to the Conference of New England Championship Game for the second time in program history this season, coming away with an 18-8-1 record overall, the most wins in a single season by the team.