The Gophers women's soccer team signed seven players Wednesday, including four Minnesotans.

Armstrong goalkeeper Ana Aguado, forward McKenna Buisman of Mankato West, Class 1A's Ms. Soccer; defender Alana Dressely of Hill-Murray, and forward Lydia Ruppert of Minneapolis Washburn are the in-state players who signed with Minnesota.

The other three in this recruiting class are defender Megan Gray of Ankeny, Iowa, defender Delaney Stekr of Omaha, and forward Patricia Ward of Newport News, Va.

The Gophers lose six seniors.

St. Kate's ranked No. 8

The St. Catherine softball team is ranked No. 8 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's preseason poll — its highest ranking ever.

The Wildcats are the defending MIAC playoff champions.

Awards aplenty

Twenty-one individuals, groups or programs received awards in six separate categories Wednesday at Minnesota Girls and Women in Sports Day ceremonies at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul.

Betsy Farness, a former Minnetonka High School girls' track and field coach and girls' tennis coach, received the Marie Berg Award for Excellence in Education.

Marshall Radio received the Kwame McDonald Award for equality in sports broadcasting, and St. Cloud Tech girls' gymnastics assistant coach Colleen Stark-Haws the Wilma Rudolph Award for Courage and Inspiration.