Women's Lacrosse Announces 2012 Award Winners
October 23, 2012 | Women's Lacrosse
Oct. 23, 2012
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville women's lacrosse head coach Kellie Young announced the Cardinals' 2012 season team award winners at the program's banquet.
Capturing the coveted team's most valuable player award were Janaye Dzikewich and Nikki Boltja. Dzikewich, one of the captains last season, started all 15 games on defense and finished second on the team in ground balls (35) and caused turnovers (21). The Whitby, Ontario, native also scored a pair of goals and had six draw controls. Boltja, the team's primary offensive threat, totaled 53 scores, which ranks sixth on the school's single-season list. That mark was tied for 20th-best nationally, and her 3.53 goals per game ranked fourth in the country.
"Dynamic, unorthodox, and incredibly effective as an attacker," Young described Boltja, "she is among the best finishers in the country. She is the player that every team prepares for, a force that no single defender can stop."
Dzikewich also captured the coach's award for her leadership on and off the field.
"Janaye is being honored for attacking the game, for inspiring her teammates and for being a Cardinal day in and day out," Young stated at the banquet. "She is celebrated for loving the game, her teammates and Louisville."
The unsung hero award was bestowed to Amy Poteet, who saw action in 15 games, registering four goals, two assists, 19 draw controls and six caused turnovers. Young, though, recognized Poteet for the contributions away from the field.
"She gets it, the demands of being a Division I student-athlete," Young said, "the time required to exceed at both academics and lacrosse and the value in making that time while finding balance in her life. She is a mentor, a teammate, a leader and a follower."
The team's rookie of the year award went to Faye Brust, who had a significant impact on the offense as a freshman. She tallied 13 goals, including a season-best four against second-ranked Syracuse, and had 11 draw controls.
"She is calm and determined on the field, rarely rattled by outside forces," Young said of the Bel Air, Md., native. "She has great hands, catches almost anything sent her way and can get around almost any defender."
Rounding out the awards was the most improved player honor, which was granted to Eleni Kozas and Leslee Hefner. Kozas, who graduated in the spring, scored 15 goals, including a game-winner, in 15 games and had 14 ground balls. Hefner was another pivotal piece of the Cardinals' defense, earning playing time in 15 contests and collecting 17 ground balls and forcing four turnovers.
"In 2012, her success was evident on the field," Young said of Kozas. "She is an example of perseverance, buying in to the coaches and applying their tips, attacking the game until the opportunity to shine arrives, and then giving it everything she had."
Young continued with Hefner: "Early in the spring, she showed everyone what she wanted from her experience, displaying speed, 1v1 defense and solid decision making. She was quickly thrust into a starting role midway through the spring and never looked back."
