Shannon Aitken Becomes UT’s First National Player of the Year in Women’s Soccer
TAMPA, Fla. - After her stellar goalkeeping helped The University of Tampa to its first women's soccer national championship, senior Shannon Aitken was honored as the NSCAA National Player of the Year for NCAA II.
Aitken concluded her senior season with a record of 20-2-3 in goal with a 0.61 GAA while leading Tampa to the NCAA title in a victory over Franklin Pierce. She allowed just 16 goals in 25 matches and 2354:46 minutes of play.
The Land O'Lakes native also registered a school-record 14 shutouts as she concludes her UT career with a school-record 40. Aitken's 59 career wins also is a UT record. She had a 38-5-4 record in her last two seasons at Tampa.
The goalkeeper was a major reason for the Spartans success as she helped the team to the national semifinals for the first time in program history as a junior in 2006 that was topped by her senior performance.
Aitken becomes the first University of Tampa women's soccer player to be named national player of the year, which occured in the program's 10th year of existence.
The players from all levels will be announced on Friday, Jan. 11, as the recipients of the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy.
Each of the recipients will be recognized at the NSCAA/adidas All-America Luncheon, to be held Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Marriott Waterfront in conjunction with the 2008 NSCAA Convention in Baltimore, Md.