KANSAS CITY, Mo. ? Senior defender Patrice Godwin has been selected as one of the 30 NCAA Division I women’s soccer candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award presented annually to the nation’s top senior student-athlete in nine NCAA sports. She is the only nominee from the Western Athletic Conference.
The 30 NCAA Division I women’s soccer players were selected based on their achievements in four areas: classroom, character, community and competition. The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is distinctive from many other honors in that on-the-field performance is only one factor in determining candidacy ? a major emphasis is placed on off-the-field commitments and personal character.
Godwin, a senior from Reseda, Calif., is a four-year starter on Nevada’s soccer team and is a team captain this season. The defender has anchored a Nevada defense that has recorded 23 shutouts during her career. She has started and played in 62 career games for Nevada. In July of 2008, she was selected to attend the U23 Select/Amateur National Team Training Camp.
She was named to the All-WAC second team in 2007. During her career, she has led Nevada to three WAC Tournament appearances, including the program’s first-ever appearance in 2005. Godwin also led Nevada to its first WAC Tournament Title and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2006.
Godwin, an information systems major, was named to the WAC All-Academic team in 2006 and 2007 and earned a Pack Pride Award during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years. She hopes to work for Google or Apple after graduation.
She has been a part of several volunteer activities during her time at Nevada, including volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in 2005. Godwin has also volunteered at Renown, Nevada’s Soccer Clinic and the Great Basin Youth Soccer League clinic. During the summer, she worked at Kid’s University - a program which allowed her to interact with members of the community.
Godwin is the second Nevada athlete to be nominated for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in the last two years. Andrea Sitton, a former member of the women’s basketball team, was selected as a candidate in 2007-08.
From the list of 30 candidates, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the 2008 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in both divisions in October. Those 10 names from each division will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote beginning October 9 and concluding November 19. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award. Winners will be announced during the 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championships in Cary, North Carolina, scheduled for December 5-7, and during the 2008 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championships in Frisco, Texas, scheduled for December 12-14.