Shannon Aitken Named SSC Female Athlete of the Year

ORLANDO, Fla. - University of Tampa women's soccer goalkeeper Shannon Aitken has been named the 2008 Sunshine State Conference Female Athlete of the Year, announced Commissioner Michael J. Marcil.

Voting for the Athlete of the Year award is conducted among the league's sports information directors.

Aitken had a tremendous year for the Spartans, leading the team to its first ever NCAA Division II National Championship and earning DII Women's Soccer National Player of the Year honors. Aitken's play also helped propel UT to SSC regular season and tournament championships.

She played in goal in all 25 of Tampa's matches, notching a 20-2-3 record with 14 shutouts and a 0.61 goals against average. Aitken set school single-season records in shutouts and wins, while her 0.61 GAA ranks third in program history.

In addition to her national player of the year recognition, Aitken earned a slew of other honors, including first-team NSCAA All-America, first-team NSCAA All-South Region, second-team Daktronics All-South Region, and first-team All-SSC. She was also named the Tampa Sports Club Outstanding Female Amateur Athlete.

A senior from Land O' Lakes, Fla., Aitken leaves her mark on a number of Tampa career records. She departs with the school record in shutouts (40), wins (59), saves (197), and goalkeeper minutes (6,974:56).

Off the pitch, Aitken was active in the Tampa community. She volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and the Counsel for Exceptional Children. A nursing major with a focus on pre-medicine, she worked as a technician at Tampa General Hospital. She also participated in the UT Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and worked with youth summer soccer camps.

Aitken becomes the second Tampa student-athlete to earn SSC Female Athl ete of the Year honors. Danielle Faggion, a volleyball player, earned the distinction in 1999-2000.