Yoko Murphy of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues has been named the 2009 most valuable offensive player, while teammates Jen Held and Jeska Eedens earned most sportsmanlike and most valuable defensive player honours as the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced women’s lacrosse major award winners and all-stars on Thursday, October 29.
Fourth-year attacker Yoko Murphy (Toronto) was recognized as the OUA most valuable offensive player, leading the league with 49 goals in just 12 games this season. Murphy and fellow attacker Taryn Grieder finished the season tied for second in points (53), behind teammate Jen Held. Murphy was also recognized as a first team OUA all-star.
Held (Brampton, Ont.) is the first female lacrosse player to earn most sportsmanlike honours in two consecutive years. Twice named the Varsity Blues athlete of the week this fall, Held led the OUA with 63 points this season, was ranked second with 34 assists and joins Murphy as an OUA first team all-star. This is the third time in the past four seasons that the Varsity Blues have won this honour as Murphy was recognized in 2006.
History major Jeska Eedens (St. Catharines, Ont.) picks up her first OUA recognition as the 2009 most valuable defensive player. The third-year standout helped lead the Blues this season, allowing the second fewest goals (85) – only one more goal than the Western Mustangs at 84.
Greider (Cobourg, Ont.) and veteran Tory Merrill (Orangeville, Ont.) were also recognized as OUA second team all-stars this season. Greider finished tied for second in the OUA with 53 points and was also second, behind Murphy, with 35 goals this season. A fifth-year midfielder, Merrill also posted impressive numbers this year, finishing tied for sixth in the OUA with 37 points.
The Varsity Blues women’s lacrosse team is the top seed heading into the 2009 OUA championship this weekend (Oct. 31-Nov. 1) at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. U of T takes on the Laurier Golden Hawks in semi-final action on Saturday, October 31 at 12 p.m.
Source: Ontario University Athletics
