2023 MA Sorensen Award Nominees Named

03.31.2023College Women

The nominees for the MA Sorensen Award have been released.

These players have been nominated as candidates for the MA Sorensen Award as the nation's top women's collegiate rugby player. The award is named after World Cup-winning Eagle MA Sorensen, who went on the blaze trails as a player, coach, and doctor. The award is presented every year (since 2016) by the Washington Athletic Club of Seattle, Wash.

This list of nominees will, with the help of the collegiate rugby community, be whittled down to a finalist group of four or five, and the winner will then be voted on by the awards panel, which includes MA Sorensen herself. The winner will then officially receive her trophy at a gala event in Seattle in June.

Previous MA Sorensen Award-Winners:

2016: Hope Rogers, Penn State
2017: Ilona Maher, Quinnipiac
2018: McKenzie Hawkins, Lindenwood
2019: Emily Henrich, Dartmouth
2020: Alex Sedrick, Life University
2021: Richelle Stephens, Lindenwood
2022: Idia Ihensekhien, Dartmouth

The 2023 Nominees are (in alphabetical order):

Demi Allen, Lindenwood

A brilliant playmaker, finisher, and defender, Allen played fullback for the 2022-23 D1 Elite champion Lindenwood Lions. (Broadgauge Media)

Cassidy Bargell, Harvard

A previous Sorensen finalist who bravely came back from a serious health issue to lead Harvard to the NIRA final, Bargell is a superb scrumhalf with breakaway speed. (AEG Rugby)

Kristin Bitter, Dartmouth

A field general, playmaker, and intense defender, Bitter led Dartmouth to a NIRA championship in the fall of 2022. (Dartmouth Athletics)

Kaylee Cargile, Army West Point

Either a lock with tons of pace of a flanker with plenty of power, Cargile is a multi-skilled forward for Army. (West Point Athletics)

Alle English, Queens University Charlotte

Englilsh led Queens to a NIRA D2 title. The scrumhalf received far and away the most nominations from the rugby public for the MA Sorensen Award. (Justin LaFleur)

Saher Hamden, Life University

A previous MA Sorensen Award finalist, Hamden has already been capped by the USA and at flyhalf and center led Life to the D1 Elite final this past fall. (Broadgauge Media)

Tessa Hann, Central Washington

The Wildcats flanker is a physical presence with plenty of ball skills and rugby understanding, leading Central to one of the team's best season. (CWU Athletics)

Ember Larson, Michigan

An explosive fullback with pace and an understanding of space, Larson's brilliance in attack helped lead Michigan to the NCR D1 title.

Autumn Locicero, Life University

At home on the wing or at scrumhalf, Locicero is a brilliant attacking player, superb defender, and on-field leader for the Running Eagles.

Marissa Meyer, Navy

A thundering center who breaks tackles and makes tackles (and doesn't miss them), Meyer is a multi-skilled back who led Navy to a CRAA Women's D1 championship in the fall of 2022. (Broadgauge Media)

Tiahna Padilla, Harvard

Defensively sound and a terror with the ball in hand Padilla was a massive part of Harvard's run to the NIRA final in the fall. (Harvard Rugby)

Mahdia Parker, Brown

Parker was Brown's try-scoring and try-making machine as they made the NIRA semifinals. (Brown University Athletics)

Ariana Ramsey, Dartmouth

Already an Olympian and a 7s star, Ramsey's tenacity as an attacking player and on defense earned her NIRA final MVP honors. (Justin LaFleur)

Julia Riekena, Army West Point

A physical, imposing No. 8 for Army, Riekena is all about power and explosiveness for Army. (West Point Athletics)

Mae Sagapolu, Central Washington

Just recently capped, Sagapolu set the tone up front at prop and anchored Central Washington's pack. (CWU Athletics)

Taina Tukuafu, Lindenwood

The Lions' scrumhalf was brilliant all season unleashing the myriad weapons Lindenwood used to take the D1 Elite championship. (Broadgauge Media)

Camile White, Penn State

A stalwart at fullback for Penn State, effective on attack and on the counter and completely dependable on defense, White was a highlight for the Nittany Lions this season. (Jackie Finlan/TheRugbyBreakdown)