America East believes that the student-athletes represent the best and brightest of each of the conference's nine member universities . In order to recognize the contributions these student-athletes make to their classrooms, their campuses and their communities, America East will highlight a different student-athlete each month over the course of the 2008-09 school year in a "Best of U." feature.

The final 2008-09 installment of "Best of U." focuses on University at Albany two-sport athlete Ashley Ross. Ross was a four-year member of the field hockey team at Albany and joined the women's lacrosse squad this past spring. Additionally, she was the conference's runner-up for the Woman of the Year and will be considered for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award this summer. The story was written by Brianna LaBrecque, Assistant Director for Athletic Communications at the University at Albany.

A successful Division I student-athlete must possess many qualities and talents, both on and off the field. They must be able to balance a rigorous practice and game schedule with a full course load, find time to study while traveling and participating at the highest level of college athletics, and be a key member of their college community. Most student-athletes have figured out how to fulfill all of these components to a certain extent, but few are able to be highly successful in all areas. The University at Albany’s Ashley Ross is one of these model student-athletes.

 

Ross is a four-year member of the UAlbany field hockey team, helping to lead the Great Danes to the America East Conference Championship title as a senior last season. A starter for her entire career, she earned all-conference accolades all four seasons, earning all-rookie honors as a freshman before two straight first-team appearances. Ross wrapped up her career with a second-team showing as a senior after finishing her career as the winningest goalkeeper in program history.

 

Ross recorded 45 victories in the cage for the Great Danes, while also notching 318 saves and a 1.56 goals against average. As a senior, she also set the single-season record for minutes played, seeing 1,479:54 minutes of action. Ross was also named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Northeast Region squad following her junior season and was the America East Conference Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after leading the Great Danes to the championship title.

 

“On the field, Ashley was our rock on defense,” said UAlbany head coach Phil Sykes.  “She earned too many awards to name and holds several program records.  She is a big reason for our two regular-season America East championships and our 2008 America East postseason championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament.”

 

Ross took her athletic pursuits to a different field this spring, as she joined the UAlbany women’s lacrosse team. After pursuing field hockey throughout her high school and college days, Ross picked up a different stick and took to the lacrosse field, taking on a new challenge to add to her repertoire. 

 

“I knew the lacrosse team was looking for another goalkeeper,” said Ross, who had never played the sport prior to this spring. “Some of the players came to me to see if I would be interested. I just wanted to help the team as much as I could in a backup role.”

 

In addition to being a stellar athlete, Ross excels academically. A communication major, she is a four-time member of the America East All-Academic Team, earned NFHCA Division I All-Academic Team accolades on three occasions and has been named to the UAlbany Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll. At UAlbany’s annual Great Dane Awards held this spring, Ross was named the 2008-09 ECAC Merit Medal winner, given to the school’s top senior male and female student-athletes who have shown excellence in the classroom and as competitive athletes during the current academic year.

 

“I always worked hard at athletics and academics throughout high school,” said Ross. “Academics has always been important to me. When I went to college, I knew I was going to have to work harder on and off the field.”

 

Ross’ talent surpassed the playing field and the classroom, as she also excelled as a leader in the community throughout her collegiate career. A team captain on the field hockey squad, she was also voted to the executive board of UAlbany’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where she helped organize numerous community service endeavors including Adopt-A-Family, a campus-wide dodgeball tournament that helped raise money for Habitat For Humanity and Campus Clean-Up Day.

 

“I’ve always tried to help out in the community as much as I can,” said Ross, who has continued to volunteer at the high school and elementary schools in her hometown of Lancaster, Pa., on school breaks. “I think that what SAAC does is very important for the school and the outside community. It is great to help out the surrounding area whenever you can, even if it’s something small.”

 

With all of her accolades and athletic achievements, along with her impact on fellow student-athletes and the Capital Region community, it is no wonder that Ross was the runner-up for the annual America East Woman of the Year award this year. Ross, who will be pursuing a master’s degree in communication in the fall, will be a member of the women’s lacrosse team again in the spring. She also plans on remaining an executive member of SAAC, helping to keep the UAlbany name active in the community.

 

“Ashley has been a true student athlete over the past four years,” said Sykes. “In the classroom she has gotten better and better each semester.  She has been a great role model to our younger student-athletes, giving them great guidance in how to be balanced in academics and sport.”

 

An exemplary student-athlete in every definition of the word, Ross has made an impact on the field, in the classroom and in the community. A student-athlete that all other student-athletes can look up to, Ross is truly a great Great Dane.