Teammates Sam Apuzzo and Dempsey Arsenault from Boston College, Selena Lasota from Northwestern University and Megan Taylor of the University of Maryland are the four finalists for the Class of 2019 Honda Sport Award for Lacrosse as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).
The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 43 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”. The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2019 Honda Cup which will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, June 24, 2019, in downtown Los, Angeles.
The nominees were chosen by a panel of coaches representing the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA). The Honda Sport award winner for softball will be announced next week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.
Apuzzo, a senior attack player from West Babylon, N.Y., is a three-time Tewaaraton Award finalist after winning the award in 2018 was named the ACC Attacker of the Year for the second year in a row. She was also the Class of 2018 Honda Award winner for Lacrosse. She led nation in goals scored with 94 and ranked second in the nation in points with 124 (30 assists and broke her own single season goal scoring record for the third straight year. She also broke her own program record for draw controls with 191 on the year.
Arsenault was a 2019 Tewaaraton Award finalist and was named the 2019 ACC Midfielder of the Year. The senior from New Hampton, N.H., posted 65 goals and 27 assists for 92 point on the year and ranked second on the team behind Apuzzo in goals and third in assists. She is a 2019 All-ACC First-Team selection and was named to the ACC All-Tournament team. A team captain, she is also a two-time All-ACC Academic team honoree.
Lasota, a senior attack player hailing from Campbell River, B.C., was the 2019 Big Ten Attacker of the Year and a 2019 Tewaaraton Award finalist. She earned Inside Lacrosse First-Team All-America honors after tying for third in the nation in goals scored on the year with 85. She led her team in goals and points (104). A three-time All-Big Ten honoree, she ranked fourth nationally in goals per game (4.25) and set program record for career goals with 282.
Taylor was the 2019 Tewaaraton Award winner and the first goalkeeper (men or women) ever to win the honor, which is given to the top lacrosse player in the nation. The senior from Glenelg, Md., led her team to NCAA Championship title and is a four-time Big Ten Goaltender of the Year. She is the first-ever player in the conference to win their position's award four years in a row. She was named the 2019 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after 10 saves in the National Championship game.
Honda Sport Award winners will be presented with the honor during on-campus presentations throughout the year and all Honda Sport Award winners become a finalist for the prestigious 2019 Honda Cup award presented in June.
The CWSA, celebrating its 43rd year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.3 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.
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