First-year UBC Thunderbird flyhalf and UBC Faculty of Arts student-athlete Mackenzie Carson has been awarded the U Sports Rookie of the Year for women's rugby.

Carson burst on to the U Sports rugby scene in a big way this season. The Abbotsford, B.C., native and UBC flyhalf scored a try in her very first game with the UBC Thunderbirds.  She quickly became a point person in the Thunderbirds attack and would go on to score three tries in the 2016 season.



Carson was a star for the Yale Lions during her high school career in Abbotsford and was name to Canada's U-20 team this summer that travelled to England.  She also captained the BC team that won the National 7's Championship and the Las Vegas International 7's championship earlier this year.
 

U Sports W??F
Rookie of the year/Recrue de l'année

MacKenzie Carson, @ubctbirds #USportsRUG16 pic.twitter.com/Ft1ge8BfdC

— U Sports Rugby (@USports_Rugby) November 3, 2016

  
"Mackenzie was able to step into a demanding position (flyhalf) seamlessly," said Thunderbirds head coach Maria Gallo. "Her attitude toward this challenge was remarkable and her ability to adapt was impressive. She has a bright future at UBC!"

Carson is the first UBC women's rugby player to be awarded Rookie of the Year since Megan Hamm in 2010.