KANSAS CITY – Three Grand Valley State Lakers have been selected as United Soccer Coaches All-Americans for the 2019 season. Forward Ava Cook, midfielder Riko Sagara and defender Cecilia Steinwascher all received first team honors for their efforts so far this year and leading the Lakers to the Final Four, which begins Thursday (Dec. 12) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Soccer Coaches announced the 2019 All-America teams Wednesday (Dec. 11) evening.
 
The Lakers are tied for the most representatives on the All-America rosters and are the only school with three players named to the first team. GVSU has already set a new single-season goal record, leads the nation in goals per game and is second in scoring defense while leading the country with 18 shutouts. All three are making their second straight appearance on the United Soccer Coaches All-America teams; both Sagara and Steinwascher were members of the first team last season while Cook was a third team honoree a year ago.
 
Cook leads the nation in both goals (28) and points (67) entering the final weekend of the 2019 season. Her post-season numbers are eye-popping with eight goals and eight assists in seven matches thus far, capped off by a hat-trick in the Lakers' 5-2 win over Minnesota State in the national quarterfinals. She currently ranks fifth in GVSU annals in career goals, just two behind Ashley Botts and is also sixth in career points, just six off of a top-5 spot, with a full senior season left to play.
 
Sagara leads the nation in assists (23) for the second season in a row while also ranking second in points (61) behind only Cook. She is one dime away from matching the GVSU all-time single season record set by Marti Corby. She also ranks second in Laker history in career assists (46) despite having played just two seasons after transferring from NAIA Martin Methodist. Her 2019 All-America status makes her four-for-four in All-America accolades for her outstanding collegiate career, which she is looking to cap off with a National Championship this weekend.
 
Steinwascher is the top center back and leader of one of the best defenses in the country. The Lakers lead Division II with 18 shutouts while holding the second-best goals-against average in the nation (0.33) entering the Final Four. The defense pitched 13 shutouts in a row to close out the regular season, finishing two matches shy of the national record, and made history when they went the entire nine-match GLIAC conference schedule without allowing a goal; the first time in 25 years of GLIAC women's soccer a team has accomplished the feat. She's also contributed five assists on the offensive end for good measure.
 
The Lakers' three All-Americans look to lead the Lakers back to the National Title Match, where they fell just short in 2018. The quest for the program's sixth cup resumes Thursday (Dec. 12) when the top-seeded Lakers face No. 4 Saint Rose in the national semifinals at 11 AM at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.