By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University women's lacrosse player Emma Canchola (Fr., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS) has been selected First Team All-Northwest Conference in the Bearcats' inaugural season of 2019 in voting by the NWC head coaches. Anabel Ohsman (So., ATT, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS) of Willamette was chosen Second Team All-NWC.
A total of 27 student-athletes were named to the 2019 All-Northwest Conference Women's Lacrosse Team. Coaches voted 13 players to the First Team and chose 14 players for the Second Team. Lois Ray, an attacker from George Fox University, was selected NWC Women's Lacrosse Player of the Year. Linfield College midfielder Bethany Shade was chosen NWC Freshman of the Year. Head Coach Katie Mastropaolo of George Fox was voted NWC Coach of the Year.
The Bearcats, under the guidance of Head Coach Sarah Lautenbach, completed their inaugural season with a 6-10 overall record, including a 5-7 record and fifth place finish in the NWC. Five Willamette players scored 10 or more goals, and eight players recorded at least 15 ground balls. Four Bearcats each forced 10 or more turnovers.
First Team All-Northwest Conference
Emma Canchola (Fr., DEF) earned First Team All-NWC recognition after leading the Bearcats on defense. She ranked first on the team with 66 ground balls, led the team with 47 draw controls and forced a team-high 33 turnovers by the opponents. In addition, she scored one goal and one assist. She ranked first in the NWC in ground balls, was third in caused turnovers, and was seventh in draw controls. She finished the year ranked 45th in NCAA Division III in ground balls per game (4.13).
Canchola started all 16 games. She set school records with 11 draw controls against University of Dallas on March 24 and with 10 ground balls against Pacific University on March 30. She caused six turnovers against Pacific on March 30 to tie for the school record.
During the season, she earned six or more ground balls eight times and registered four or more draw controls five times. She also caused three or more turnovers five times. She was named NWC Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week on April 2. She contributed 25 ground balls, caused 15 turnovers and won 11 draw controls in games against Southwestern University (Texas), University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Pacific and Linfield.
"We are very excited for her," Willamette Head Coach Sarah Lautenbach said. "It's common for defenders to get overlooked, and for her to get this kind of recognition in her first year is awesome. She definitely worked hard for it, but it's not a surprise she earned her spot on that team with what she accomplished this year."
Second Team All-Northwest Conference
Anabel Ohsman (So., ATT) was named Second Team All-NWC following an outstanding year as Willamette's leasding scorer. Ohsman hit the nets with 46 goals and earned six assists for 52 points. She also led the Bearcats with 90 total shots and 79 shots on goal (87.8% of her shots were on target). She scored on a 51.1% of her total shots. She was sixth in the NWC in goals scored.
In addition to her offensive success, Ohsman also provided Willamette with strong overall play. She ranked second on the team with 38 draw controls and was fourth with 26 ground balls. She forced 11 turnovers. She ranked ninth in the NWC in ground balls and was 10th in total points.
Ohsman scored a school record nine goals in an 18-14 win at the University of Dallas. She also set a school record with 10 points in that game. Overall, she scored a hat trick (three or more goals) in seven games, including five games with five or more goals. WU was 6-1 when she earned a hat trick and the Bearcats were 5-0 when she scored at least five goals.
