ITHACA, N.Y. -- Senior Karlee Overguard was named the ECAC Hockey co-Defensive Forward of the Year, the league office announced on Sunday. Overguard shares the award with Dartmouth's Regan Fischer. Voting was conducted among the 12 league coaches.

Overguard has played a key role in the Big Red recording the top scoring defense in the country while also having the top penalty-killing unit in the nation. The Big Red led the league with a 94.8 percent success rate in league play and is first in the country for the second straight season in that category, killing off 94 percent of the power-plays against. 

Cornell's defense has recorded 11 shutouts in 31 games and is averaging just one goal allowed per game on the year. Overguard has played in 28 of the 31 games and has a +23 rating.

The Big Red has advanced to the ECAC Hockey semifinals and will take on fifth-seeded Quinnipiac on Thursday at Lynah Rink. The winner of Thursday's game will play in the league championship contest, which will be played on Saturday in a 3 p.m. game televised live on the NHL Network.