University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Bruin Standouts Robin Anderson, Sam Mewis to Vie for Honda Cup
The Honda Sports Award is presented annually by the CWSA to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”. Mewis and Anderson were chosen by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools among four finalists in each sport.
The 2014 espnW National Player of the Year, Mewis earned NSCAA first-team All-America and Academic All-America acclaim and was a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy. A two-year team captain, Mewis led UCLA to consecutive Pac-12 titles in 2013 and 2014 and to the Bruins' first-ever NCAA women's soccer chhampionship in 2013. In 2014, she was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year and led the conference with 16 goals, 13 assists and 45 points. She finished her UCLA career ranked in the program's all-time Top 10 in goals (31, ninth), assists (32, second) and points (94, sixth).
Mewis is the second-straight UCLA women's soccer player to win the Honda Award, following 2014 winner Abby Dahlkemper. Mewis and Dahlkemper are now starting for the Western New York Flash in the National Women's Soccer League.
Anderson repeats as the Honda Award winner, becoming just the third Bruin to win in multiple years, joining legends Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1983, 1985) and Lisa Fernandez (1990-93). Anderson also became just the second Bruin to win The ITA National Women's Collegiate Player of the Year. The No. 1-ranked collegiate singles player in the nation, Anderson posted a 27-3 record this past season and won the Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships in the fall.
Anderson registered over 200 combined wins and seven ITA All-America honors over her career and led UCLA to the NCAA Championship match three times in four years, with the Bruins winning the title in 2014.
Three Honda Sports Awards winners for soccer have gone on to win the prestigious Honda Cup, Christine Sinclair (2006), Cindy Daws (1997) and Mia Hamm (1994), while the sport of tennis is seeking its first Cup winner.
The Honda Sports Award winners in order of sports announced are:
Kate Avery, Iona (cross country)
Paula Heuser, UAlbany (field hockey)
Sam Mewis, UCLA (soccer)
Krista Vansant, Washington (volleyball)
Missy Franklin, Cal (swimming & diving)
Breanna Stewart, UConn (basketball)
Kytra Hunter, Florida (gymnastics)
Taylor Cummings, Maryland (lacrosse)
Emma Talley, Alabama (golf)
Lauren Haeger, Florida (softball)
Robin Anderson, UCLA (tennis)
Jenna Prandini, Oregon (track & field)
In addition to the Honda Cup being unveiled, the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Show presented by Honda will also recognize the Class of 2015 Top Three honorees, Honda Inspiration Award winner Imani McGee-Stafford (Texas, Basketball), DII Honda Athlete of the Year Rachel Dickinson (Millersville University (PA), Field Hockey) and the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year Allyson Fournier (Tufts, Softball).
THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 39 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.0 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.