Salt Lake City, Utah (May 10, 2017) – Caroline Youngs of Georgia and Kelley Dingens of the University of Denver were named as the Division I and Division II winners, respectively, of the 2017 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.
Youngs, a senior goalie, is a three-time, first team All-American and led Georgia to a 13-3 record in the regular season. The Bulldogs are the defending WCLA champions and secured the No. 4 seed for this week’s Division I national championship tournament in Salt Lake City.
Dingens, a senior defender, is also a three-time All-American and led Denver to a 12-2 record this season. The Pioneers are the defending WCLA D-2 champs and are the top seed in the 2017 Division II championship tournament.
In addition to the Amtahcha Award winners, the 2017 WCLA All-Americans and major award winners in each division were named. The honorees are:
Division I - First Team
Attack
Katie Koller – UCLA - Junior
Nelli List – Texas - Junior
Julia Norek – Georgia - Junior
Sam Simonich – Santa Clara - Senior
Jillian Schell – San Diego State - Soph
Midfield
Jessica Berg - Colorado State - Junior
Gretchen Kiep – UCLA - Senior
Beth Ruder – Santa Clara – Senior
Julia Sargent – Cal Poly - Junior
Sydney Sapir – North Carolina - Junior
Jessica Tobey – Colorado - Junior
Maddie Ward – Pittsburgh - Senior
Defense
Jackie Adelsberg – UCLA - Senior
Lead Feulner – UCLA - Junior
Emily Horn – Virginia Tech - Senior
Claire Kingston – Cal Poly - Senior
Emily Tower – Georgia – Senior
Goalie
Caroline Youngs – Georgia – Senior
MacKenzie May – Colorado State - Senior
Division I - Second Team
Attack
Courtney Bruch – Pittsburgh - Senior
Brigid O’Flynn – Boston College - Senior
Samantha Sherman - Colorado State - Senior
Whitney Sieverts – Brigham Young - Senior
Shannyn Westgarth – San Diego State - Soph
Midfield
Emily Frazelle – Texas A&M - Senior
Katherine Vocelka - Georgia - Junior
Bianca Ingato – North Carolina - Junior
Heather Haight – Brigham Young - Soph
Jackie McGuinness – Virginia Tech - Soph
Lia Winter – Pittsburgh – Senior
Sarah Wyrick – Western Washington - Junior
Defense
Katie Buck - Georgia - Junior
Sarah Fried – Michigan - Sophomore
Rachel Judd Keep – Brigham Young - Senior
Kayla Wayne – Colorado State - Junior
Mara Wrzeniewski - Pittsburgh - Freshman
Goalie
Jessica Estrada - Cal Poly - Senior
Maggie Von Massenhausen – Santa Clara - Senior
2017 Division I Awards
Player of the Year (Amtahcha Award) – Caroline Youngs – Georgia - Senior
Attacker of the Year – Katie Koller – UCLA - Junior
Midfielder of the Year – Jessica Berg – Colorado State - Junior
Defender of the Year – Jackie Adelsberg – UCLA - Senior
Goalie of the Year – MacKenzie May – Colorado State - Senior
Rookie of the Year – Jillian Schell – San Diego State - Sophomore
Coach of the Year – Dean Walker - Louisville
Jenn Eames Award – Cal Poly
For the Love of the Game Award – Savannah Walker - Louisville
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Division II - First Team
Attack
Kaitlyn Ball – Denver - Sophomore
Alexandra Kyte – Concordia (Ca.) - Senior
Jillian Queri – Denver - Senior
Michaela Smith – Loyola (Md.) - Senior
Kelsey Wood – Grand Canyon - Junior
Midfield
Brianna Healy – Grand Canyon - Sophomore
Audrey Burns – Utah - Sophomore
Katy Loughlin – Loyola (Md.) - Senior
Sophie Smith – Denver - Sophomore
Alexis Ortt – Grand Canyon - Sophomore
Victoria Peleras – Concordia (Ca.) - Junior
Sophie Vernon - Denver - Freshman
Defense
Kelley Dingens – Denver – Senior
Lauren Beckstrand – Utah - Freshman
Emily Cabuling – Concordia (Ca.) - Senior
Alexandra Fontaine – Loyola (Md.) - Senior
Marissa Rillo – Cal State San Marcos - Senior
Goalie
Caitlin Paine – Grand Canyon - Sophomore
Jammie Dumolt - Denver - Senior
Division II - Second Team
Attack
Olivia Braun - Oakland - Sophomore
Erin Croutier – Loyola (Md.) - Junior
Briarrose DeTommaso - NYU - Junior
Kara Holmes - Bethel - Junior
Marina Sandoval – Cal State San Marcos - Freshman
Midfield
Emma Kirker - Cal State San Marcos - Junior
Francoise DeManche – Denver - Senior
Bergan McArdle – Utah - Freshman
Claire Holman – Utah - Freshman
Maddy Marshall – Denver - Freshman
Ashley Judd – Boise State - Senior
Katie Bucy – Washington State - Junior
Defense
Tamara Ford – Iowa State - Freshman
Kelly Heffernan – Illinois State - Freshman
Danielle Drake – Oakland - Senior
Tessa Braley – Utah - Freshman
Cass Sonderegger – Utah State - Senior
Goalie
Whitney Davidson – Utah - Freshman
Victoria Lomangio – High Point - Junior
2017 Division II Awards
Player of the Year (Amtahcha Award) – Kelley Dingens – Denver - Senior
Attacker of the Year – Kaitlin Ball – Denver - Sophomore
Midfielder of the Year – Brianna Healy – Grand Canyon - Sophomore
Defender of the Year - Kelley Dingens – Denver – Senior
Goalie of the Year - Caitlin Paine – Grand Canyon - Sophomore
Rookie of the Year – Sophie Vernon – Denver - Freshman
Coach of the Year – Tracy Pati - Utah
Jenn Eames Award – Washington State University
For the Love of the Game Award – Michaela Beck – Tufts
For the Love of the Game Award – Cassie Cottle (official)