2018 GLIAC WOMEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

GLIAC – The 2018 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Women's Soccer awards have been announced after voting conducted by the league's coaches.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
A first-year transfer from Martin Methodist, Grand Valley State junior Riko Sagara has made an immediate impact on the GVSU offense. Her 15 assists in the regular season lead the entire nation which, combined with seven goals, gives her 29 points from her attacking midfielder position; the second most in the GLIAC this season. Sagara had four assists in the Lakers 10-0 win over Purdue Northwest, matching the program single-game record. Her ability to strike from long-range makes her a dangerous weapon on set pieces and her vision and creativity turn even the most mundane of possessions into scoring opportunities in a snap. Sagara helped GVSU to a league-best 59 assists and 63 goals on the year, helping the nationally top-ranked Lakers to be a mainstay in the Division II top-10 in scoring offense throughout the year.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Following all-region honors in her freshman campaign, Grand Valley State sophomore Cecilia Steinwascher continues to be a dominant force for the Laker back line in her sophomore season. The Sterling Heights, Michigan native rotated between center back and holding midfielder throughout the year, two crucial positions in the GVSU defensive scheme, to help the Lakers dominate possession and scoring opportunities. GVSU conceded just five goals in the regular season, entering post-season play with the third-lowest goals against average in the nation (.271). Steinwascher's one-on-one defending, strength on the ball and tackling ability make her the dominating force on a top defense in the country.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Grand Valley State's Madeline Becker becomes the second straight Laker to earn GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors. Her 10 goals on the season were second in the GLIAC while her 23 points were tied for fifth. Becker went on a tear in September, scoring in four straight matches – including three in a row with multiple goals – capped by her first career hat-trick in the first half of a 10-0 win over Purdue Northwest. The Ada, Michigan native started just one of the Lakers first five matches before becoming a constant in the starting XI over the next 12 contests. Her ability to grow and adapt to the college game has been crucial for a Laker offense that had to replace three regularly contributing forwards from a year ago, including two-time National Player of the Year Gabriella Mencotti.

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Ashland University sophomore Hannah Lee has a 0.81 goals against average in 13 games this season, ranking third in the GLIAC in that category. She has a save percentage of 81.7 and is 7-2-4 on the season. Lee has kept four shutouts this season and started two other games in which the Eagles did not allow a goal. She has 49 saves in total and has a 7-2-4 record as the Eagles' keeper. Lee made a season-high eight saves in a 2-2 tie at Ferris State on Sept. 28. She also was a part of four clean sheets in a five-game stretch in September as Ashland started the season on an 11-game unbeaten run. Lee is the first AU keeper to be named GLIAC Goalkeeper of the Year since the award was started in 2013.

COACH OF THE YEAR
In a season where there could be plenty of excuses for the GVSU Lakers regressing, instead they took a step forward. Fifth-year GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler was able to take a roster that lost 14 players from a year ago and a 2018 team consisting of mostly freshmen and sophomores to the team's first undefeated regular season since 2013 and a national No. 1 ranking for the first time in two years. Bringing in some key transfers and back-to-back stout recruiting classes, Hosler found the formula to reload the Laker squad to a 17-0-1 overall record perfect 9-0-0 GLIAC mark for their 14^th consecutive regular season title. This is the second straight GLIAC Coach of the Year honor for Hosler and his second in his five years at the helm of the five-time national champions, proving the national prowess of Grand Valley State is safe and secure under the direction of Hosler and his staff.

A complete list of the 2018 All-GLIAC women's soccer teams is below: