Julia Ashley of the University of North Carolina, Stanford University’s Jordan DiBiasi, Caitlin Farrell from Georgetown University and Natalia Kuikka of Florida State University are the four finalists for the Class of 2019 Honda Sport Award for Soccer as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).
The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 43 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”. The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2019 Honda Cup which will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, June 24, 2019, in downtown Los, Angeles.
The nominees were chosen by a panel of coaches representing the United Soccer Coaches (USC). The Honda Sport award winner for soccer will be announced next week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.
Ashley, a senior defender from Verona, N.J., is a TopDrawerSoccer Best XI first-team honoree and one of 10 finalists for the 2018 Senior CLASS Award. A USC third-team All-American, she led her team in scoring (22 points) and assists (10) and is the first defender to lead the team in scoring in school history. She is a two-time ACC second-team honoree and was on the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list.
DiBiasi is a 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy finalist and a USC first-team All-American. Most recently, she was named the USC Scholar Player of the Year and a USC Academic First-Team All-America honoree. The midfielder from Highlands Ranch, Colo., was named the 2018 Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year and tabbed first-team All-Pac-12 after leading the Cardinals in assists (10) and setting career highs in goals (10) and points (30).
Farrell, a senior forward hailing from Wallingford, Conn., is a 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy finalist as the first-ever Hoya women’s soccer player to be named finalist. The USC first-team All-American led the Hoyas with 39 points on 18 goals and three assists. She led her team to a program record 21 wins and to the 2018 NCAA semifinals losing on a golden goal. She finished second in the country in game-winning goals and third in total goals (18).
Kuikka, a senior defender from Kemi, Finland, led her team to the 2018 NCAA Championship title and was named to the College Cup All-Tournament team. A USC second-team All-American, she led her team to 16 shutouts on the season, including two en route to the NCAA title in the College Cup, and allowed just 13 goals in 27 matches. She registered two goals and an assist from center back.
Honda Sport Award winners will be presented with the honor during on-campus presentations throughout the year and all Honda Sport Award winners become a finalist for the prestigious 2019 Honda Cup award presented in June.
The CWSA, celebrating its 43rd year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.3 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.
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