PORTLAND, Ore. -- Lewis & Clark College sophomore center back Ava Lazzara earned Honorable Mention on the 2025 All-Northwest Conference Women's Soccer Team, the conference office announced Thursday. The recognition marked her first collegiate postseason award and followed a season in which she provided steady minutes and consistent defensive play for the Pioneers.
 
Lazzara started all 19 matches she played and logged 1,675 minutes, the third-highest total on the roster behind senior Elle Sparks and junior Grace Smith. She anchored the center of the back line and played a key part in a defensive unit that posted five shutouts. She went the full 90 minutes in all but one conference match, recording 88 minutes in the season finale against Willamette, and handled sustained defensive pressure in several one-goal contests. Lazzara finished the season with three shots, including one on goal.
 
Her positioning, clearances and timing in challenges helped Lewis & Clark hold opponents to one goal or fewer in nine matches. She contributed to several of the Pioneers' strongest defensive results, including a 2-0 win at Pacific on Oct. 24 and scoreless draws at George Fox and Whitworth during the final two weeks of the season.
 
Lazzara's selection continued the program's 20-year streak of placing at least one player on the All-NWC Team. The conference did not produce an All-NWC team in 2020.