Schmidt One of Four Finalists for Honda Sports Award

by A_Fan Tue Dec 14, 2010 2:11 am

Schmidt One of Four Finalists for Honda Sports Award

University of Portland women’s soccer standout Sophie Schmidt has been named one of four finalists for the 2010-11 Honda Sports Award for women’s soccer. Schmidt, a senior from Abbotsford, British Columbia, was a three-time All-America honoree for Portland and recently helped Canada win the 2010 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Mexico.

Schmidt is joined on the ballot by Melissa Henderson (Notre Dame), Alex Morgan (California) and Christen Press (Stanford). She becomes the 11th Honda Sports Award nominee in Portland history. Shannon MacMillan won the award for the 1995-96 season, while Christine Sinclair (2002-03, 2005-06) joins North Carolina’s Mia Hamm is the only two-time honorees. Other Pilot nominees for the award included Tiffeny Milbrett, Justi Baumgardt and Michelle French.

Schmidt earned All-America honors for the third consecutive season this year, despite missing seven games due to Canadian National Team commitments. She led Portland to a 19-1-2 overall record and finished with seven goals and five assists in 15 games. Schmidt concluded her career as the No. 7 scorer in school history (111 points) with 40 goals and 31 assists and one of just five Pilots in the 40/30 club.

The Honda Sports Award winner will be decided by nationwide voting among NCAA member schools and will receive the award for soccer and become a nominee for the nation's outstanding Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year who will receive the Honda-Broderick Cup. The winner is expected to be announced on Friday, December 17.

In addition to the honor of this selection, American Honda will donate $1,000 to the women’s athletic fund of each nominee’s university. The winner’s program will receive $5,000.

Honda Soccer Award Nominees for Portland
1991-92 Tiffeny Milbrett
1992-93 Tiffeny Milbrett

1994-95 Tiffeny Milbrett
1995-96 Shannon MacMillan (Honda Sports Award Winner)
1996-97 Justi Baumgardt
1997-98 Justi Baumgardt
1998-99 Michelle French
2002-03 Christine Sinclair (Honda Sports Award Winner)
2004-05 Christine Sinclair
2005-06 Christine Sinclair (Honda Sports Award Winner and Honda-Broderick Cup Winner)
2010-11 Sophie Schmidt