COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Eleven University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's lacrosse student-athletes earned postseason recognition from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), highlighted by Ella Mills being named RMAC Freshman of the Year.  The 2026 major award winners and All-RMAC Teams were announced Thursday afternoon by the conference office.
 
Mills becomes the fourth Mountain Lion in program history to earn the honor, joining Sarah Urbanic (2024), Brielle Fannin (2023), and Natalie Church (2018).
 
In addition to her freshman accolade, Mills was selected to the All-RMAC First Team alongside midfielder Rylie Maready. Sofia Watts, Kendra Knutson, and Jade Wilson each earned All-RMAC Second Team honors, while Delaney Gnos, Allison Hoffman, Josie Leonard, Danica Rodriguez, Peyton Ross and Allie Schell were named Honorable Mention selections.
 
Around the conference, Regis University's Maggie Schipfer and Brigit Goetsch were named Attacker of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year, respectively. Avery Irlbeck of Colorado Mesa earned Midfielder of the Year honors, while Westminster's Marianna Dick was named Defensive Player of the Year. Westminster head coach Ashley Tack was selected as Coach of the Year.  All-RMAC teams and individual awards were voted on by the conference's six head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
 
A freshman attacker from Lakeville, Minn., Mills made an immediate impact, leading UCCS in goals (44), points (49), shots on goal (64), and game-winning goals (3). She ranked among the RMAC leaders in goals per game (2.93), shots per game (5.13), and points per game (3.27), establishing herself as one of the league's top offensive threats.
 
Starting 13 of 15 games, Mills scored in all but one contest and enters postseason play riding an 11-game scoring streak. She recorded multiple goals in nine games, highlighted by a four-goal outing against Northern Michigan for her first career hat trick. On March 18, she posted a career-high six goals and her first game-winning goal against Missouri Western, then followed with back-to-back five-goal performances against Fort Lewis and CSU Pueblo.  Beyond scoring, Mills contributed across the field with 26 ground balls, four caused turnovers, and five draw controls, underscoring her all-around impact in her debut season.
 
Colorado Springs native Rylie Maready earned First Team honors after appearing in all 15 games and starting the final 11 contests. She totaled 13 goals and two assists while shooting efficiently, placing 23 of her 34 shots on goal and converting three free-position attempts.
 
Maready recorded goals in eight games, including four multi-goal performances and a hat trick in a Senior Day win over Westminster. In addition to her offensive contributions, she played a key role in possession, collecting 31 draw controls and 17 ground balls. She registered three games with five draw controls, including each of the final two regular-season wins over Westminster and Regis, helping UCCS control tempo down the stretch.
 
Sophomore attacker Sofia Watts earned her second straight All-RMAC Second Team selection after starting all 15 games and scoring in every contest. She posted 11 multi-goal games, including back-to-back six-goal performances against Fort Lewis and CSU Pueblo. Watts led the team with 10 free-position goals and ranked among RMAC leaders in goals per game (2.53), shots per game (5.7), and points per game (2.73), while also netting a game-winning goal against Northern Michigan.
 
Senior defender Kendra Knutson closed her regular season with 27 ground balls, 10 caused turnovers, and a draw control, continuing her consistent defensive presence. A four-time All-RMAC honoree, Knutson recorded six multi-ground-ball games, including a season-high five in a win over CSU Pueblo, and provided veteran leadership on the back line.
 
Senior midfielder Jade Wilson, a transfer from Augsburg and a two-time Second Team selection, led both UCCS and the RMAC in draws per game (4.20), totaling 63 draw controls. She tied a program record with 12 draws in a win over Westminster and now ranks second all-time in program history with 131 draws in just two seasons. Wilson added 63 ground balls, three assists, and four caused turnovers, making her one of the team's most impactful two-way players.
 
Goalkeeper Delaney Gnos anchored the net for UCCS, starting all 14 games she appeared in and posting a 7-4 record. She logged 606 minutes in goal with 80 saves, ranking among RMAC leaders in goals-against average (11.30), saves per game (5.71), and save percentage (.412). Gnos recorded a season-high 12 saves in the opener against Maryville and added 11 more stops against Indianapolis, consistently providing stability between the pipes.
 
Freshman midfielder Allison Hoffman emerged as one of the conference's most dynamic newcomers, totaling 26 goals and 16 assists for 42 points. She ranked near the top of the RMAC in shots per game (5.2), assists per game (1.07), and points per game (2.80). Hoffman scored in every game this season and delivered a standout eight-point performance (4 goals, 4 assists) in a win over CSU Pueblo. She also contributed 20 draw controls, 15 ground balls, and two game-winning goals.
 
Freshman attacker Josie Leonard played in all 15 games and provided consistent production with 12 goals and four assists. She ranked second on the team with 40 draw controls, highlighted by an 11-draw performance against Northern Michigan—one of the top single-game marks in program history. Leonard added a hat trick in a road win at Fort Lewis and proved to be a reliable presence in both the offensive and draw game.
 
Freshman defender Danica Rodriguez made her mark defensively with 13 caused turnovers and 24 ground balls. She recorded multiple caused turnovers in three games, including matchups against Colorado Mesa and Westminster. Rodriguez also contributed offensively with a free-position goal at CSU Pueblo, showcasing her versatility on both ends of the field.
 
Defender Peyton Ross earned her second consecutive RMAC Honorable Mention after totaling 11 caused turnovers and 26 ground balls. She posted a season-high three caused turnovers in games against Fort Lewis and Regis and added a six-ground-ball performance against Regis at home. Ross has also been recognized for her work in the classroom, earning RMAC Academic Honor Roll honors twice.
 
Senior attacker Allie Schell returned to the Honorable Mention list and led both UCCS and the RMAC in assists per game (1.6), finishing the regular season with a team-high 24 assists. She recorded at least one assist in 10 games and multiple assists in six contests, including a four-assist performance in the season opener. Schell played a key role in facilitating the Mountain Lions' high-powered offense throughout the season.
 
The 2026 RMAC Co-Champion Mountain Lions enter the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed and will face No. 3 Westminster tonight at 7 p.m. at Regis University. The winner advances to Saturday's RMAC Championship game at 4 p.m.
 
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.