SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San José State women's soccer team celebrated their tremendous 2018 campaign with their annual end-of-the-year banquet. Head coach Lauren Hanson emceed the banquet that honored the team's accomplishments and consisted of dinner, videos recapping the season, speeches from coaches and players and presentation of the player's awards.
The Spartans won the 2018 Mountain West Tournament Championship for the second time in the last four seasons and qualified for the NCAA Tournament where they faced UCLA in Los Angeles.
Kristen Amarikwa, a first team All-Mountain West and All-Pacific Region selection, was voted the team's Defensive MVP. As the leader of the defensive back unit, Amarikwa and the Spartans allowed just five goals in league play and tallied a conference-record eight shutouts in league play.
Darriell Franklin was named the team's Offensive MVP. A senior from La Habra, California, Franklin finished second on the team in goals scored, and scored the one of the biggest goals of the season in penalty kicks against 1-seed Boise State in the Mountain West Tournament Semifinal to send the Spartans to the championship match.
Other highlights of the night included Jamilecxth Becerra receiving the award for Most Inspirational, Jada Wilson being named the team's Most Improved Player, Hannah Mathews picking up Rookie of the Year and Paige Simoneau and Natasha Harris taking home the Coaches' Awards.
With the 2018 season in the books, the Spartans now turn the page and look towards 2019 as they prepare to defend their championship title.