UNC star attacker Jamie Ortega was announced as the winner of the Honda Sport Award for women’s lacrosse Tuesday. The award is given annually by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards to the top women athletes in 12 sports who signify “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.”

“I am honored to have been chosen for this year’s Honda Sports Award for Lacrosse,” Ortega said in a statement. “To be selected from this amazing group of finalists is truly gratifying. I am part of an incredible team sport and receive this along with the teammates who I’ve shared my accomplishments with, and I am both humbled and grateful to have been chosen.”

Administrators from more than 1,000 NCAA member schools voted for the award, and Ortega was chosen over a group of finalists which included teammate Ally Mastroianni.

During her career at UNC, Ortega was named a first team All-American four times in five years. The women’s lacrosse team compiled a record of 49-1 in Ortega’s final three seasons (including the shortened 2020 season), and won the program’s third national championship with a perfect 22-0 record in 2022. Ortega set an NCAA championship game record with five assists in the win against No. 3 Boston College on Memorial Day weekend.

For the 2022 season, Ortega finished as UNC’s leader in goals (69), assists (44) and points (113). She is also the current ACC leader with 466 career points, which ranks second in NCAA history. Her 334 career goals are most in Carolina history.

“We are so grateful that Jamie is being recognized with the prestigious Honda Award,” said head coach Jenny Levy. “We cannot think of a more deserving student-athlete. Throughout her time in Chapel Hill, Jamie excelled at the highest level and continued to grow as a player and teammate. A consummate winner, her consistency of excellence during her collegiate career and the impact she had on our program is unparalleled.”

This is the third straight year a Tar Heel has won the Honda Sport Award, after Sara Daavettila (tennis) won in 2021 and Erin Matson (field hockey) won in 2021 and 2020.

Because of her win, Ortega will be a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the 2022 Honda Cup, which will be presented on June 27.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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