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Dec. 17, 2015

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Senior defender Emily Sonnett was named Player of the Year and head coach Steve Swanson was named Coach of the Year by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) when the organization released its annual honors on Thursday (Dec. 17).

It marks the fourth consecutive year for Virginia to claim Coach and Player of the Year honors from the organization. Six players also received recognition with first or second team VaSID honors.

Sonnett was one of five Cavaliers to earn first team honors as Makenzy Doniak (Chino Hills, Calif.) was selected at forward, Alexis Shaffer (Cary, N.C.) was selected at midfield and the trio of Sonnett, Meghan Cox (Springfield, Va.) and Kristen McNabb (Montville, N.J.) were selected at defender.

Morgan Stearns (San Antonio, Texas) earned second team honors at goalkeeper.

A finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, Sonnett was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and the ESPNW National Player of the Year earlier this season. She also earned first team All-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and was an All-ACC first team selection. The defender helped the Cavaliers post 15 shutouts on the season, including 14 shutout victories, and anchored a back line that allowed only 12 goals on the year.

Sonnett earned her first cap when she took the field with the US Women’s National Team against Brazil as a part of the Victory Tour in October.

Swanson guided Virginia to a 19-1-3 record on the year and the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. The Cavaliers went 9-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, claiming the ACC regular-season title for the second time in three seasons.

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