Oct. 1, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Former Charlotte 49ers women's soccer standout Lindsey Ozimek (2004-07) has been recognized as one of three candidates in Division I for the 2008 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The award recognizes outstanding female student-athletes who have excelled academically and athletically in addition to demonstrating strong community service and leadership.
The original list of candidates of 130 female student-athletes for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award has been narrowed down to a top three list for each division (I, II, III). As a part of the three Division I candidates, Ozimek will attend a banquet in Indianapolis, Ind., on Oct. 19, at which the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will choose the winner. An hour-long broadcast of the event will air on ESPN2 at 4:30pm on Dec. 5.
Ozimek, the 2007 A-10 Midfielder of the Year, dished out a league-leading 13 assists last season as a senior while garnering first-team All-Conference honors for the third consecutive year. The Charlotte, N.C., native led the 49ers to the 2007 A-10 regular and post-season titles and was named to the All-Championship team for the third time. She ended her career with 43 assists, tops in program annals.
Off the field, Ozimek was named the Atlantic 10 Female Student-Athlete of the Year this past June. She was tabbed a first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America for the second straight season. She was a three-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American since she earned third-team honors as a sophomore. She was also three-time Academic All-Atlantic 10 selection. The 2007 A-10 Women's Soccer Student-Athlete of the Year was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America second-team this past year while boasting a 4.0 grade point average majoring in special education.
The honor recognizes outstanding female student-athletes who have excelled academically and athletically in addition to demonstrating strong community service and leadership. To be eligible, the female student-athlete must have earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and competed during the 2007-08 academic year. In addition, each individual must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2008 spring season and must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.5. A committee composed of representatives from NCAA member schools and conferences chose the honorees - 10 from each NCAA division - from 130 conference and independent nominees. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will choose a national winner from among the nine finalists.