GoffRugbyReport.com — Freda Tafuna of Lindenwood has been named the 2024 winner of the MA Sorensen Award as the top female collegiate rugby player in the United States. [All photos c/o Todd Lunow @todd.lunow]
Tafuna’s impact on her team and the collegiate scene has already seen her capped by the USA. The SoCal Youth Rugby product is easily the hardest-hitting loose forward in the women’s collegiate game and a game-changer for any team she plays for, including the Eagles.
Photo: Todd Lunow @todd.lunow
The junior has helped Lindenwood to two national D1 Elite championships as well as this year’s appearance in the final against Life. She beat out an impressive field of finalists, including Matilda Kocaj of Life University, Tiahna Padilla of Harvard, and Akilah Cathey of Brown.
The MA Sorensen Award is named after Maryann Sorensen, who was a women’s collegiate rugby trailblazer at William & Mary and was the starting prop for the USA when they won the 1991 World Cup and made the next two World Cup finals in 1994 and 1998.
Photo: Todd Lunow @todd.lunow
A successful doctor (specializing as an anesthesiologist), Sorensen was also an inspiring coach and rugby mentor throughout her career. She has been at the Sorensen awards celebration every year to present the trophy that bears her name.
The MA Sorensen Award is presented by the Washington Athletic Club of Seattle, Washington and has been given every year since 2016. The award is announced in the spring and officially presented at a gala event at the WAC in Seattle in June. This year’s event is June 8.
Past MA Sorensen Award Winners:
2016: Hope Rogers, Penn State
2017: Ilona Maher, Quinnipiac
2018: McKenzie Hawkins, Lindenwood
2019: Emily Henrich, Dartmouth
2020: Alex “Spiff” Sedrick, Life University
2021: Richelle Stephens, Lindenwood
2022: Idia Ihensekhian, Dartmouth
2023: Keia Mae Sagapolu, Central Washington