Freshman forward Daryl Watts has been named winner of the 2018 Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation’s top women’s collegiate hockey player. She is the first freshman to win the award and the second Eagle to win it in three years. Alex Carpenter ’16 won it in 2016.

The award was announced earlier today.

“I came to Boston College to have fun playing hockey at the highest level, learn from great coaches, and be part of a special group of teammates,” Watts said. “I never dreamed this year could’ve gone as it did. I am so lucky to be coached by Katie (Crowley), Courtney (Kennedy) and Court (Sheary) and be on the ice with our incredible team. They push all of us to be better every day and this award is as much my teammates’ as it is mine.”

At age 18, Watts is the nation’s leading scorer (82 points) and has the highest point total ever in an Olympic year (when some top college players are on leave from their teams) during the NCAA era (since 2000-01). The Toronto, Ontario, native posted just the 7th 40-goal, 40-assist season in NCAA history, the first in an Olympic year, and just the 3rd in the last 13 seasons.

Watts was the 2018 Hockey East Player of the Year and unanimous selection as the Hockey East Rookie of the Year, in addition to unanimous selections to both the conference’s All-Star First Team and All-Rookie squad.

Her 82 points mark the second-highest point total ever posted by a freshman in NCAA play, while her 42 goals are tied for the most by a freshman in NCAA history, matching Harvard forward Julie Chu’s 42 in 2002-03. Watts’ 82 points are also the second-highest single-season point total in Boston College history.

BC finished the season 30-5-3, 3rd-best record in program history. Eagles won their 5th-straight Hockey East regular-season title with a 19-2-3 record, and claimed their 3rd-straight Beanpot title. The Eagles advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in program history, drawing a top-4 seed for the 7th time in program history.