Honolulu— The University of Hawai'i soccer team officially closed out the 2019 season with its annual awards banquet Thursday evening.
 
Seven awards were divvied out during the banquet awarding the Rainbow Wahine for their efforts on the field of play and in the classroom.
 
Junior defender Cristina Drossos and senior goalkeeper Alexis Mata took away the top awards of the night. Drossos received the Coach Kat Award, named after former coach Kathy Carey. The award embodies the same spirit of selflessness by Coach Kat upon the Rainbow Wahine during her time at UH.
 
Mata was selected as the Most Outstanding Competitor as she wrapped her career as of the best to ever put on a Hawai'i soccer jersey. She was named the Big West Goalkeeper of the Year, All-Big West First Team, and the 2019 United Coaches All-West Region First-Team.
 
Sophomore forward Kayla Ryan was named the Most Improved Player as she led the team in scoring with seven goals in 16 matches while joining Mata on the All-Conference First Team. Freshman midfielder Eliza Ammendolia, the third member of UH to be named to the Big West First-Team, was picked for the Newcomer award. Ammendolia led the team in assists with four, garnishing much of the attention from opposing teams in the midfield, opening up various teammates for big-play opportunities.
 
In the classroom, junior Izzy Deutsch and freshman Kylie McNamara were tabbed for their hard work as Deutsch won the Most Improved Academic Award. At the same time, McNamara claimed the Top Academic Award.
 
The attention now turns towards the spring for the 'Bows. UH has begun conditioning and offseason strength training session. A schedule of spring games will be announced at a later time.
 
Top Academic Award- Kylie McNamara (4.0)
Most Improved Academic Award- Izzy Deutsch
Spring Season Outstanding Competitor Award- Natalie Dixon
Most Improved Player- Kayla Ryan
Newcomer Award- Eliza Ammendolia
Outstanding Competitor Award- Alexis Mata
Coach Kat Award- Cristina Drossos