Viens Nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year Award
TAMPA, July 15, 2020 – Evelyne Viens is not quite done earning collegiate recognition, despite graduating in December 2019. The record-breaking Canadian, who now plays for Sky Blue FC in the National Women's Soccer League, was chosen as USF's nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
Rooted in Title IX, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award was established in 1991 to recognize graduating female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
"
Evelyne Viens is a worthy candidate for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award because she embodies excellence in not only athletics but service, leadership and academics," head coach
Denise Schilte-Brown said. "Evelyne strives for greatness in all areas of her life and we are excited to see the impact she will have on society as she continues to leave her mark."
Viens finished a stellar career with the Bulls in 2019 by leading the team to its best finish in program history, setting new highs with 16 wins, a third-round appearance in the NCAA tournament, and a No. 16 final ranking by United Soccer Coaches.
Viens broke the program and conference records in goals (73), points (169), and shots (360), while also breaking multiple additional USF or American Athletic Conference records. The program's first All-American in 2017 also repeated with the honor twice more, earning a second third-team honor in 2018 and a second-team honor in 2019.
The L'ancienne-Lorette, Canada, native tied as USF Athletics' second highest draft pick at No. 5 overall, a mark she holds along with women's basketball's Wanda Guyton. Softball's
Monica Triner remains the highest-selected Bull as a No. 2 selection in the 1999 WPSL Draft.
Academically, Viens graduated with a degree in accounting last fall and was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team three times. Additionally, she was named a United Soccer Coaches First Team Scholar All-American in her senior year. Viens also earned USF Athletics Honor Roll honors in every semester since fall 2017, when the award was created.
Viens is one of 10 NCAA Woman of the Year Award nominees from American Athletic Conference institutions. She joins a total of 605 other nominees from NCAA schools from all divisions, including 259 from Division I, 126 from Division II and 220 from Division III.
The American Athletic Conference will now select up to two nominees each from the 10 nominees. Then, the Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division.
From the Top 30, the Woman of the Year selection committee will determine the top three honorees in each division and announce nine finalists. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then will choose the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year, who will be named this fall.
See the full list of nominees
HERE.
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 eight 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, 2018 and 2019.
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