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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Amanda Riesmeyer of Michigan and Sydney Liebl of St. Thomas have been named as the Division I and Division II winners, respectively, of the 2019 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.

Riesmeyer, a senior defender, is a two-time All-American and was the national defender of the year in 2018 as she helped lead the Wolverines to the national championship. This season, she has helped Michigan to a 14-3 record and the No. 5 seed for this week’s Division I national championship tournament in Virginia Beach. 

Liebl, a senior midfielder, led St. Thomas to a 12-0 record this season. She is this year’s Division II national midfielder of the year in addition to the Amtahcha Award winner. St. Thomas begins play Thursday as the number three seed in the Division II national championship tournament.

The Amtahcha Awards were established in 2012 through a gift from Dr. Larry Feldman, founder of LaxPower.com, to the US Lacrosse Foundation. 

In addition to the Amtahcha Award winners, the 2019 WCLA All-Americans and major award winners in each division were named. 

2019 WCLA Division I National Awards
Player of the Year (Amtahcha Award) - Amanda Riesmeyer – Michigan -Senior
Attacker of the Year -- Karina Yamasaki - UCLA - Senior
Midfielder of the Year -- Emma Shahabi – UCLA - Junior
Defender of the Year -- Sarah Fried – Michigan -Senior
Goalie of the Year -- Anna Downs - Boston College - Jr
Rookie of the Year -- Kelli McKinnon -San Diego St - Fresh
Coach of the Year -- Destiny Moore - Oregon State
For the Love of the Game -- Stephanie Alpizar - Oregon
Jenn Eames Award -- Virginia Tech

2019 WCLA Division II National Awards
Player of the Year (Amtahcha Award) -- Sydney Liebl - St. Thomas – Senior
Attacker of the Year -- Michaela Hoffmann - St. Thomas –Junior
Midfielder of the Year -- Sydney Liebl  - St. Thomas - Senior 
Defender of the Year -- Kirsten Brown - Grand Valley State – Senior
Goalie of the Year -- Hannah Hinde -Utah Valley – Junior
Rookie of the Year -- McKenna Huber -Utah State –Fresh
Coach of the Year -- Krista Call -Utah State
For the Love of the Game -- Jasmine Rangel -Hardin-Simmons
Jenn Eames Award – Navy


 

WCLA All-Americans – Division I First Team
Position
Name
School
Year
Attack Karina Yamasaki UCLA Senior
Attack Shannyn Westgarth San Diego State Senior
Attack Alexandra Schepers Georgia Fresh
Attack Meghan Darcy Cal Poly Soph
Attack Annie Quinn Boston College Junior
Midfield Emma Shahabi UCLA Junior
Midfield Kendall Fitzgerald UCLA Senior 
Midfield Sophie Kamanski UCLA Junior 
Midfield Kelli McKinnon San Diego State Fresh
Midfield Tess Anderson BYU Senior 
Midfield Allie Level UC Berkeley Soph
Midfield Juliann Carroll Cal Poly Senior 
Defense Sarah Fried Michigan Senior
Defense Amanda Riesmeyer Michigan Senior
Defense Jules Lynch Pitt Junior
Defense Rachel Sevcik Georgia Senior 
Defense Sally Nason UCLA Soph
Goalie Anna Downs Boston College Junior
Goalie Maddie Collins Michigan Soph 
WCLA All-Americans – Division I Second Team

 

Position
Name
School
Year
Attack Sarah Conley Boston College Soph
Attack Becca Outcalt Texas Fresh
Attack Anna Park Michigan Fresh
Attack Kierin Ratliff Pitt Fresh
Attack Jennifer Sanderson Georgia Senior
Midfield Heather Haight BYU Senior
Midfield Riley Meehan Georgia Soph
Midfield Elizabeth Maisch Pitt Junior 
Midfield Madeleine Mele Texas Senior 
Midfield Maria Keener Virginia Tech Soph 
Midfield Alana George Cal Poly Senior 
Midfield Allie Scannapieco Delaware Soph
Defense Emma Walter Delaware Senior
Defense Anna Flach Virginia Tech Senior 
Defense Emily Nutter Pitt Junior 
Defense Allison Sigdestad Cal Poly Junior 
Defense Caroline Grasso Delaware Junior 
Goalie Emily Carella Virginia Tech Senior
Goalie Katie Honebrink Pitt Senior 
WCLA All-Americans – Division II First Team
Position
Name
School
Year
Attack Michaela Hoffmann St. Thomas Junior
Attack Kelly O'Krepkie Loyola Maryland Junior
Attack Jaclyn Mullen Grand Valley State Junior
Attack Jasmine McDonald Oakland Univ. Soph
Attack Naomi Hunsaker Utah State Soph
Midfield Sydney Liebl St. Thomas Senior
Midfield Faith Ritchie Utah State Junior
Midfield Koty Coats Oakland Univ. Senior
Midfield Sophie Smith Denver Senior
Midfield Lauren Mann Grand Valley State Senior
Midfield Kelly Coyne St. Thomas Fresh
Midfield McKenna Huber Utah State Fresh
Defense Kirsten Brown Grand Valley State Senior
Defense Brooke Sawyer Oakland Univ. Junior
Defense Anna DiSaverio Denver Soph
Defense Kendall Qualey St. Thomas Senior
Defense Hanna Venier Utah State Fresh
Goalie Alicia Zeller Grand Valley State Senior
Goalie Hannah Hinde Utah Valley Junior
WCLA All Americans – Division II Second Team
Position
Name
School
Year
Attack Abbie Waechter Grand Valley State Junior
Attack Melanie Alnaraie Oakland Univ. Fresh
Attack Michaela Smith Loyola Maryland Senior
Attack Chloe Doctor Denver Fresh
Attack Madelyn Blair Portland State Soph
Midfield Michaela Juels UC San Diego Senior
Midfield Aimee Bowen Utah State Fresh
Midfield Ashley Llewellyn Loyola Maryland Soph
Midfield Megan Lynch Denver Fresh
Midfield Courtney Sweeny New Hampshire Senior
Midfield Nola O'Connor Oakland Univ. Senior
Midfield Lija Miller Denver Fresh
Defense Brianna McCoy Oakland Univ. Senior
Defense Kelsy Hoemke Grand Valley State Senior
Defense Caroline Painter Denver Senior
Defense Emily O'Keefe New Hampshire Fresh
Defense Jenna Siegelbaum Loyola Maryland Junior
Goalie Molly McCormack Providence College Senior
Goalie Maria Davila Oakland Univ. Fresh