BOSTON — The nine institutional nominations for the inaugural America East Woman of the Year award were announced on Monday afternoon by America East Commissioner Patrick Nero. Albany’s Ashlee Reed (volleyball), Binghamton’s Lauren Verrusio (softball), Boston University’s Brittany McDonald (soccer), Hartford’s Brianne Paulson (volleyball), Maine’s Linda Consolante (soccer), UMBC’s Kelly Fioriani (lacrosse/soccer), New Hampshire’s Debbie Newman (soccer), Stony Brook’s Marrisa Trachtenberg (lacrosse) and Vermont’s Merrie-Beth Maynard (field hockey) have been chosen as the senior female student-athletes on their respective campuses that best exemplifies a commitment to service, leadership, athletics and academics during their collegiate careers.
Individual Releases: Reed |
Consolante |
Fioriani |
Trachtenberg |
Maynard
To be nominated, student-athletes must have earned a varsity letter in a NCAA-sponsored sport and competed during the 2005-06 academic year, completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2006 spring season or received her undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the spring 2006 term and have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).
In conjunction with the changes in the nomination process for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, the America East Woman of the Year award was established for the 2005-06 athletic season. Effective this year, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) will receive conference-designated nominees in lieu of the previous institution- and state-based nomination format.
The nine America East nominees will be narrowed down to three finalists on Wednesday (June 21) with the America East Woman of the Year being announced on Sunday (June 25) at the America East Annual Meeting in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The three league finalists will be invited to the Annual Meeting where they will be recognized for their achievements.
The America East Woman of the Year will then be forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will select the top 10 winners in each NCAA division (I, II and III). From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the CWA will vote from among the top nine to determine the 2006 NCAA Woman of the Year.