Sonntag Named Academic All-America

ARNOLD, MD – Anne Arundel Community College women's lacrosse student-athlete Natalie Sonntag has been named to the 2019-20 CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division At-Large Team, it was announced today. Sonntag, a nursing major, is the first recipient in Anne Arundel Community College history and is just one of just 20 awardees from across the nation. She is the only recipient from Region XX, and the first for the Region since 2016.

Sonntag was an NJCAA All-American in her freshman campaign in 2019, leading the nation in draw controls with 154 (the most in the NJCAA since 2016). She also ranked fourth in the nation with 55 goals, adding 27 assists to rank seventh in the nation with 70 points. She scored five goals including the game-winner and added an assist in the Riverhawks' Region XX win over previously undefeated Harford. Her 17 caused turnovers led AACC, which finished the season as the national runner up.

Sonntag, who was the Region XX Tournament Most Outstanding Player, earned NJCAA All-Academic Third Team honors in 2019, as well as NJCAA Championships All-Tournament Team, All-Region XX First Team and All Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference (MDJUCO) First Team awards.  Sonntag is also a two-time AACC Athletic Director Honor Roll awardee.

"I'm very happy for Natalie," said Women's Lacrosse head coach Jim Griffiths. "She is extremely deserving. Her work ethic and commitment to both academics and athletics is one that others should strive to emulate."

Prior to AACC, Sonntag was a Second Team All-County midfielder at Old Mill High School, where she captained the Patriots in her junior and senior seasons.

Sonntag will continue her academic and athletic career at Ashland University (NCAA DII) in Ashland, Ohio, this fall.

The Academic All-America College Division At-Large Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the athletic realm and in the classroom. The college division includes two-year institutions, Canadian institutions and any United States four-year institutions that are not affiliated with the NCAA or NAIA. Despite the cancellation of spring competition during COVID-19, CoSIDA continued its sponsorship of the Academic All-America awards program. Student-athletes were selected based on career statistics.