Round Rock, Texas (May 9, 2018) – Katherine Vocelka of Georgia and Sophie Smith of the University of Denver were named as the Division I and Division II winners, respectively, of the 2018 Amtahcha Award as the players of the year in the US Lacrosse Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates (WCLA). Both players were honored during ceremonies on Wednesday evening.
The Amtahcha Awards were established in 2012 through a gift from Dr. Larry Feldman, founder of LaxPower.com, to the US Lacrosse Foundation.
Vocelka, a senior midfielder, is a two-time All-American and helped lead Georgia to a 14-3 record in the regular season. The Bulldogs won the Southeastern Women’s Lacrosse League title and secured the No. 2 seed for this week’s Division I national championship tournament in Round Rock, Texas.
Smith, a junior midfielder, is a three-time All-American and led Denver to an 11-4 record this season. She was also the Division II Rookie of the Year in 2016. The Pioneers are the two-time defending WCLA D-2 champs and are the top seed in the 2018 Division II championship tournament.
In addition to the Amtahcha Award winners, the 2018 WCLA All-Americans and major award winners in each division were named. The honorees are:
Division I - First Team
Att – Brianna Arnold – BYU - Senior
Att – Ashley Bonnoitt – Michigan - Senior
Att – Michella Chester – Georgia - Junior
Att - Julia Norek – Georgia - Senior
Att – Karina Yamasaki – UCLA - Junior
Mid - Jessica Berg - Colorado State - Senior
Mid – Kendall Fitzgerald – UCLA - Junior
Mid – Jordan Ford – Boston College - Junior
Mid – Heather Haight – BYU - Soph
Mid – Madeleine Mele – Texas – Freshman
Mid - Jessica Tobey – Colorado - Senior
Mid – Katherine Vocelka – Georgia – Senior
Def - Leah Feulner – UCLA – Senior
Def – Sarah Fried – Michigan - Junior
Def - Rachel Garber – Georgia – Senior
Def – Amanda Riesmeyer – Michigan - Junior
Def – Allison Sigdestad – Cal Poly - Soph
GK – Maddie Collins – Michigan – Freshman
GK – Andi Wong – UCLA - Senior
Division I - Second Team
Att – Meagan Maguire – Kennesaw State - Senior
Att – Shea O’Donnell - Colorado - Junior
Att – Clara Van Landingham – Washington - Junior
Att – Annabel Bench – Santa Clara - Junior
Att – Allison Macrae – Pittsburgh - Freshman
Mid – Annie Bennett – Michigan – Senior
Mid – Gianna Coffin – Cal Poly – Soph
Mid – Sophie Kamanski – UCLA - Soph
Mid – Megan Lynch – Pittsburgh – Soph
Mid – Liz MacVittie – Texas – Soph
Mid – Carlin Reilly – St. Mary’s - Freshman
Mid – Julia Sargent – Cal Poly – Senior
Def – Alana George – Cal Poly – Junior
Def – Leah Keen –Colorado – Senior
Def – Julia Lynch – Pittsburgh – Soph
Def – Natalia O’Neill - Georgia - Freshman
Def – Kayla Wayne – Colorado State – Senior
GK – Katie Honebrink – Pittsburgh – Junior
GK – Emily Potter – Texas - Soph
2018 Division I Awards
Player of the Year (Amtahcha Award) – Katherine Vocelka – Georgia - Senior
Co-Attacker of the Year – Julia Norek – Georgia - Senior
Co-Attacker of the Year – Brianna Arnold – BYU - Senior
Midfielder of the Year – Katherine Vocelka – Georgia - Senior
Defender of the Year – Amanda Riesmeyer – Michigan - Junior
Goalie of the Year – Maddie Collins – Michigan - Freshman
Rookie of the Year – Maddie Collins – Michigan - Freshman
Coach of the Year – Adam Weinstein - Georgia
Jenn Eames Award – Kennesaw State
For the Love of the Game Award – Kelcey Higgins – Santa Clara - Soph
Division II - First Team
Att - Kaitlyn Ball – Denver - Junior
Att – Michaela Hoffman – St. Thomas – Soph
Att – Naomi Hunsaker – Utah State – Freshman
Att – Grace Letter – SMU – Junior
Att – Jaclyn Mullen – Grand Valley State – Soph
Mid – Koty Coats – Oakland - Junior
Mid – Rachel Muller – Utah State
Mid – Caroline Murphy – Denver - Senior
Mid – Elizabeth Orschein – SMU - Senior
Mid – Faith Ritchie – Utah State - Soph
Mid - Sophie Smith – Denver – Junior
Mid - Sophie Vernon - Denver - Soph
Def – Kirsten Brown – Grand Valley State – Junior
Def – Maura O’Leary – Denver – Soph
Def – Caroline Painter – Denver – Junior
Def – Alden Schiverick – SMU – Soph
Def – Kyra Traino – Air Force - Soph
GK – Kallie Feldhaus – Denver – Senior
GK – Emma Juneau – Utah State - Senior
Division II - Second Team
Att – Bridget Bielski – Air Force - Senior
Att – Rachel Bockmeyer – SMU - Senior
Att – Sienna Buffa – Denver – Soph
Att – Eleana Cardarelli – Providence – Senior
Att – Payton Johnson - Oakland – Sophomore
Mid – Rebecca Alois – Providence – Senior
Mid – Morgan Avery – Oakland – Freshman
Mid – Brittany Bell – High Point
Mid – Patti Hoban – Providence – Senior
Mid – Jozilyn Kinster – Grand Valley State – Senior
Mid – Olivia Oppenheim – Denver – Senior
Mid – Michaella Renaud – Grand Valley State – Soph
Def – Grace Harrison – Denver – Soph
Def – Brooke Sawyer – Oakland – Soph
Def – Brianna McCoy – Oakland – Junior
Def – Kelsey Hoemke – Grand Valley State – Junior
GK – Molly McCormack – Providence – Junior
GK – Alicia Zeller – Grand Valley State – Junior
2018 Division II Awards
Player of the Year (Amtahcha Award) – Sophie Smith – Denver – Junior
Attacker of the Year – Kaitlin Ball – Denver - Junior
Midfielder of the Year – Sophie Smith – Denver – Junior
Defender of the Year – Kristen Brown – Grand Valley State – Junior
Goalie of the Year – Emma Juneau – Utah State - Senior
Rookie of the Year – Naomi Hunsaker – Utah State - Freshman
Coach of the Year – Ashley Nelson – St. Thomas
Jenn Eames Award – Loyola (Md.)
For the Love of the Game Award – Emily Brooks – New Hampshire - Soph