Samantha Fernandez Named CACC WLAX Player of the Year for Second Season in a Row
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (April 24, 2018) -- Georgian Court University standout Samantha Fernandez added to her impressive collegiate career on Tuesday, as she was named the 2018 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women's Lacrosse Player of the Year, as announced by Commissioner Dan Mara. It marks the second-consecutive season she was named the top player in the CACC, as the voting for all-conference and major awards was conducted by the league's 10 head coaches in the sport.
In addition to being named the CACC Player of the Year, Fernandez was also named to the All-CACC First Team as an attacker. Fernandez was not the only Lion to earn major accolades on Tuesday, as teammate Xena Valenzuela was named the CACC Defensive Player of the Year, and head coach Amy Rizzo was named the CACC Coach of the Year. The other major award handed out on Tuesday was CACC Rookie of the Year, which was given to Nyack College's Melissa Clapsaddle.
Fernandez logged 53 goals and 13 assists during the regular season for 66 points. She ranked seventh in the league in goals and shots (113). Fernandez posted four goals or more in nine games, including five straight from March 13 to April 4. She tossed in a season-best five markers in five contests and posted a season-high six points in three games. Fernandez was also named to the All-CACC First Team as a midfielder.
Clapsaddle was named the league's top rookie after posting 44 goals and eight assists for 52 points this season. She ranked second in the CACC in draw controls (150) and ground balls (53). Clapsaddle posted double-figure draw controls in seven games, including a season-high 15 twice. Clapsaddle earned two awards on Tuesday, as she also locked up a spot on the All-CACC Second Team as a midfielder.
By ranking first in the conference in ground balls and caused turnovers, Valenzuela easily collected the CACC Defensive Player-of-the-Year accolade. Her totals of 37 caused TO's and 74 ground balls were tops in the league. Valenzuela also ranked eighth with 66 draw controls.
Rizzo was named the CACC Coach of the Year for guiding Georgian Court to a perfect 9-0 mark in conference play and locking up the regular season championship. By finishing first in the league standings, the Lions earned the No. 1 seed and first-round bye in the upcoming CACC Championship.
The other award handed out on Tuesday was the CACC Team Sportsmanship Award, which was given to Nyack College for demonstrating outstanding character and sportsmanship throughout the season.
2018 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Samantha Fernandez (Georgian Court University)
2018 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Melissa Clapsaddle (Nyack College)
2018 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Xena Valenzuela (Georgian Court University)
2018 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE COACH OF THE YEAR
Amy Rizzo (Georgian Court University)
2018 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Nyack College
2018 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPION
Georgian Court University
2018 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
A La’Dae Boykin (Wilmington University)
A Samantha Fernandez (Georgian Court University)
A Julia Galantich (Chestnut Hill College)
M Taylor Bauerband (Georgian Court University)
M Jenna Fox (Dominican College)
M Lashay Ross (Wilmington)
M Xena Valenzuela (Georgian Court University)
M Sarah von Lange (Jefferson)
D Chanel D’Angelo (Jefferson)
D Rachel Lucia (Caldwell University)
D Kaley Malampy (Chestnut Hill College)
D Christina Ziegler (Wilmington University)
G Amber Neumann (Georgian Court University)
2018 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
A Kathryn Avanzato (Jefferson)
A Alayna Heegan (Dominican College)
A Arden Kassaleh (Caldwell University)
M Erin Campbell (Jefferson)
M Melissa Clapsaddle (Nyack)
M Erin Eckert (Jefferson)
M Madison Heck (Georgian Court)
M Julia Reinert (Chestnut Hill College)
D Caleigh Gallagher (Holy Family University)
D Jenna Hoffman (Georgian Court University)
D Lisa Milburn (Georgian Court University)
G Victoria Raimondi (Jefferson)
ABOUT THE CACC
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 14 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Concordia (N.Y.) College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University), Nyack College, Post University of Waterbury, University of the Sciences, and Wilmington University.