Courtesy of Jake Levy, GVSU Director of Communications and Broadcasting
United Soccer Coaches Official Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Grand Valley State senior midfielder Riko Sagara has been named the Division II National Player of the Year by United Soccer Coaches for the 2019 season. The Tokyo, Japan native led the nation in assists while finishing second in total points for the campaign, becoming the first Laker ever to record at least 20 goals and 20 assists in the same season to help lead the Lakers to their sixth national championship in program history. She becomes the fifth Laker to earn National Player of the Year honors from United Soccer Coaches.
Sagara scored 20 goals and dished 23 assists for 63 points on the season. A transfer from NAIA Martin Methodist, Sagara is a four-time All-American between the two levels of soccer. She set the NAIA single-season assist record as a sophomore with 36 before dishing 23 assists in each season with the Lakers. In just two years at GVSU, Sagara ranks second all-time in program career assists with 46. Both of her seasons finished one dime shy of matching the GVSU single-season record.
"It's hard to put into words how much Riko has meant to this team these past two years," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "She's so creative and tactically gifted on the field and was our only senior this year. For someone who just learned English four years ago, it's a tall task to ask her to not only play at a high level but be a veteran leader. She did just that and was a huge reason we were so dynamic offensively and able to win a national championship."
With Sagara in the key attacking midfield role, she led the Lakers to two National Championship appearances, falling a goal shy in 2018 before a redeeming double-overtime win this past weekend to capture the Lakers' sixth NCAA Championship in program history. Sagara was part of back-to-back 25-win seasons, which set and then tied the program record for wins in a single campaign.
The National Player of the Year is chosen by a coaches' vote as well as input from the national committee. Sagara will receive her award at the United Soccer Coaches national convention in January. She has already been selected as a first team All-American by both United Soccer Coaches and D2CCA selected her as their National Player of the Year as well.
