BOSTON — Albany’s Ashlee Reed (volleyball), Maine’s Linda Consolante (soccer) and Stony Brook’s Marrisa Trachtenberg (lacrosse) have been named finalists for the inaugural America East Woman of the Year award on Wednesday (June 21) in voting conducted by the Senior Women Administrators at the nine conference institutions. The accolade honors the conference’s senior female student-athlete that best exemplifies a commitment to service, leadership, athletics and academics during her collegiate career.
Reed, a three-time all-conference volleyball star, has posted a 3.53 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) in a dual major of human biology and psychology. She won the President’s Award for Leadership in Athletics, the Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete Award and the America East Volleyball Scholar-Athlete in 2005-06. Reed, an ECAC Merit Medal recipient as the school’s top senior female student-athlete, has been active on campus and in the community. She served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s Executive Council and attended the 2005 NCAA Leadership Conference. Reed has also worked with the Cystic Fibrosis Stair Climb, Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser, Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity.
Becoming the eighth player in school history to combine for 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs during a career, Reed was named to All-America East Conference first team for the third consecutive year. She averaged 3.03 kills and had a .320 hitting percentage in leading the Great Danes to a 28-4 record and the America East regular-season title.
Consolante, a four-time all-conference selection in soccer with a 3.67 GPA, has had a stellar career on and off the field at Maine. She was named to the America East All-Conference First Team in 2001, 2002 and 2005 and was a second-team pick in 2003 after missing half of the season while a member of the 2003 Canadian Women's World Cup team. Consolante was honored as the conference’s Defender of the Year in 2002 and 2005 and was a National Soccer Coaches' Association of America All-Northeast Region selection in both 2003 and 2005 as well. A two-time America East All-Tournament selection, Consolante led Maine to the America East Championship game in both 2003 and 2005.
A Dean’s List student, Consolante, a kinesiology and physical education major with a concentration in disability studies and a minor in psychology, has been named to the America East Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll four times. Consolante also served as a teaching assistant at Maine for four semesters, coached a Premier youth soccer club for the past three years and completed volunteer work at youth soccer camps and clubs during her four years wih the Black Bears. She is also a four-time Maine Scholar-Athlete Award winner and was named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team in 2005.
Trachtenberg, a two-time lacrosse all-conference standout, wrapped up her four-year career in May, helping lead the Seawolves back to the playoffs for the first time since 2003. She has started in every game in Stony Brook women's lacrosse history and ranks among the school's all-time leaders in points, goals, assists, ground balls and caused turnovers in a career and season. The 2004 SUNY Chancellor Scholar-Athlete and America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year in women's lacrosse, Trachtenberg has twice earned America East second team honors, including after her freshman season when she led the team with 53 points.
Trachtenberg’s involvement on campus and in the community has been instrumental and includes volunteering as a student co-leader for Stony Brook Day in Albany and as an assistant coordinator for National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and participating in the Walk for Beauty and Special Olympics. A member of the President's Five Year Task Force, Trachtenberg was honored with the Undergraduate Student Recognition Award for Student Excellence and Outstanding Achievement and has served as a resident assistant since her sophomore year. A member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key International, Pi Sigma Alpha and Alpha Kappa Delta National Honor Societies, she graduated in May with a 3.87 GPA with degrees in political science and sociology.
The three finalists were selected from a pool of the nine America East institutional nominations, which were announced on Monday (June 19). 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 America East Woman of the Year will be announced on Sunday (June 25) at the America East Annual Meeting in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The three league finalists will be in attendance at 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.