Shannon Aitken Named Candidate For NCAA II Athlete of the Year

TAMPA, Fla. - After leading UT to its first women's soccer national title, Shannon Aitken has been nominated as a candidate for the 2007-08 Division II Athlete of the Year representing soccer.

The women's soccer NCAA II National Player of the Year is one of four student-athletes nominated from the Fall season and will be among 11 finalists for the award, which will be announced in June 2008. The presentation of this award will be made at a press conference on June 23 at Columbia University in New York City.

For the nomination, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. donates $1,000 to the women's athletic fund of each university of the finalists. In addition, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. will donate $5,000 to the school of the Division II Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year recipient.

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.

2007-08 Nominees for Division II Athlete of the Year
Shannon Aitken, soccer, University of Tampa
Vicky Braegelmann, volleyball, University of Minnesota, Duluth
Jessica Pixler, cross country, Seattle Pacific University
Jamie Vanartsdalen, field hockey, Bloomsburg University