General | 6/28/2017 11:21:00 AM
Montclair, NJ – Senior soccer defender
ERIN SULLIVAN has been announced as Montclair State's nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year.
Established in 1991 and now in its 27th year, the NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
Sullivan closed out an impressive career both on and off the field during the 2016-17 academic year. A team captain, she helped Montclair State to a 15-4-3 record in 2016. The Red Hawks finished third in the NJAC and advanced to the conference tournament semifinals before being ousted on penalty kicks against eventual champion Rowan University. MSU received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship and advanced to the second round for the fifth consecutive season.
Named First-Team All-NJAC and First-Team All-Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association, Sullivan became the fifth player in program history to be chosen to the NSCAA's Division III All-America Team.
Sullivan anchored a Montclair State's defense that allowed just 14 goals in 22 games. MSU ranked third in the NJAC in goals allowed and goals against average (0.62). The senior also contributed on the offensive end with two goals and four assists. Her two goals both came on penalty kicks against Stockton and New Jersey City respectively and she also had assists against Rowan and William Paterson during the regular season.
Off the field, Sullivan was named to the Dean's List eight times and was a three-time member of the NJAC Academic Team, including a First-Team selection in 2017. Sullivan earned her degree in Family and Child Studies in January and is currently enrolled in The Graduate School at MSU. Sullivan was the recipient of the Red Hawks' Highest GPA Award for 2016-17 and took part in several of the women's soccer community service projects. Among the projects was MSU's involvement with City of Angels NJ which helps guide people with addiction to treatment and support them in their recovery.
A record 543 female college athletes were nominated by NCAA member schools representing all three NCAA divisions, with 229 from Division I, 117 from Division II and 197 from Division III. The nominees competed in 21 different women's sports, and 122 were multisport athletes during their time in college.
Next, conferences will select up to two conference nominees each from the pool of school nominees. The Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will then choose the top 30 honorees - 10 from each division.
From the top 30, the selection committee determines the top three honorees from each division and announces the nine finalists in September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then chooses the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year from those nine.
The top 30 honorees will be recognized and the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at the annual award ceremony Oct. 22 in Indianapolis.
