Viens Selected as Finalist for Senior CLASS Award
TAMPA, Oct. 11, 2019 – Senior forward
Evelyne Viens (L'Ancienne-Lorette, Canada) was named as one of 10 finalist for the annual Senior CLASS Award, Premiere Sports Management announced Friday. Viens was initially part of the 30-person candidate pool announced in late September.
"We're so proud of
Evelyne Viens," head coach
Denise Schilte-Brown said. "This nomination is an incredible feat. Hundreds of girls were put forward and she made the top 10 and that's where she belongs. She has incredible character. She's great in the community, so many little girls look up to her. She takes the time to make it count when she's with fans and with the younger players that are looking up to her. She's extremely competitive and she's a top performer in the classroom as well. We couldn't be more proud of Ev. She's worked hard for this and she is where she belongs. I hope the USF community and her fans will rally behind her because she needs your support."
The Senior CLASS Award is given each year to a senior at a NCAA Division I institution who is going to exhaust their eligibility at the end of the current sports season. The senior must demonstrate notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Fans, media and coaches now have the opportunity to vote for their favorite among the pool of 10 finalists. Voting will continue until Nov. 18 and the winner will be announced during the 2019 NCAA Women's College Cup in December. Fans can vote
here.
Viens has excelled academically at South Florida. While having to transition to a new language, as she spoke French in Canada, the accounting major has become a regular staple on the USF Athletics Honor Roll. She has also been named to the American All-Academic Team in each of her three years on campus, as well as earning a spot on the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-District Team.
The Canadian also exemplifies positive aspects of character, both on and off the pitch. Viens' leadership is highlighted in her dealings with up-and-coming players, acting not only as a teammate but often times also as a coach for the underclassmen. She thrives in the face of adversity, in part modeled by the fact that she arrived at USF as an international student. Viens not only had to learn a new language, but also had to adapt to a new culture as well.
Viens is also a leader when it comes to volunteering efforts among the women's soccer program. The senior has volunteered with organizations such as Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay, NCAA Bounce Blow Up, the Boys & Girls Clubs and Metropolitan Ministries. Viens also assists during Schilte-Brown's summer leadership program, which mentors young women and helps them develop leadership skills both on and off the field.
Viens' competitive accolades make her one of the greatest student-athletes in USF history. The senior tops the USF all-time record books in points (143), goals (60) and shots (306). She is also the American Athletic Conference all-time leader in points and is only one goal away from tying the top spot in goals. She's scored four goals in a game twice in her career. Viens was named an All-American by United Soccer Coaches, becoming USF's first two-time All-American. She was the NCAA statistical champion last season in goals per game (1.05) and points per game (2.47).
Viens was also named to the 2018 TopDrawerSoccer DI Best XI second team, the 2018 American Offensive Player of the Year, a two-time member of the MAC Hermann Trophy Watchlist and is a common student-athlete on the American all-conference teams.
Viens was the lone player selected to the panel of finalists from the American Athletic Conference. The full list of finalists is below.
Women's Soccer Finalists
Evelyne Viens, South Florida
Kaylee Dao, Oklahoma
Kate Del Fava, Illinois State
Samantha Dewey, Xavier
Jessie Fleming, UCLA
Sydney Fortson, Navy
Maureen Kennedy, Bowling Green
Alli Klug, Saint Louis
Meaghan Nally, Georgetown
Ally Watt, Texas A&M
About USF Women's Soccer
Be sure to follow USF women's soccer on social media (Twitter / Instagram/Facebook) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
The USF women's soccer team has posted seven consecutive seasons of 10-plus wins and nine in the last 10 years under head coach Denise Schilte-Brown. The Bulls made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2010 and returned in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018.
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