FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
van der Doorn Named One of 30 Finalists for NCAA Woman of the Year
Official NCAA Release | SNHU Release | van der Doorn NE10 WOTY Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – On Thursday afternoon, the NCAA's Woman of the Year Selection Committee announced that recent Southern New Hampshire graduate Laura van der Doorn is one of Top 30 honorees for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year.
The field hockey student-athlete was one of just 30 student-athletes from a record 605 school nominees across all NCAA divisions to make the cut. The Top 30 honorees include ten from each of the NCAA's three divisions who have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.
"Being named a Woman of the Year Top 30 honoree is the biggest compliment my team and I could have received," said van der Doorn. "Being part of such an amazing and inspiring group of women has made me who I am today, and I am very grateful to have been able to stand next to them for these past few years. I am humbled by the nomination, as it is one of the most prestigious awards from the NCAA. It is something I would have never been able to dream of, and I feel proud to be able to represent my school and the NE10."'
Earlier this year, van der Doorn was selected as the NE10 Woman of the Year, along with Saint Rose women's soccer student-athlete Nina Predanic. This honor followed a decorated career as a member of the Southern New Hampshire field hockey program. She was the program's first NFHCA All-America First Team honoree, in addition to being named both the NFHCA East Region and Northeast-10 Player of the Year. Earning her second straight NE10 First Team nod, van der Doorn registered 15 goals and five assists for 35 points, as she established a new program record for goals. She also had two separate goals appear on ESPN SportsCenter's "Top 10."
The captain ranked eighth in the nation in goals and 11th in points, while placing first and second in conference in those respective categories. van der Doorn, who was pursuing her Master's degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and had posted a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, was also exquisite in the classroom, earning multiple academic accolades, including the NFHCA Division II National Scholar-Athlete and NE10 Sport Excellence Award. van der Doorn, SNHU's 2019-20 Female Athlete of the Year, also received College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District At-Large Team and NE10 Academic All-Conference honors, in addition to seeing her name on the Zag Sports/NFHCA National Academic Squad and Scholars of Distinction lists.
This marks second straight year an NE10 student-athletes has been named a Top 30 honoree. In 2019, former Adelphi women's lacrosse standout Chelsea Abreu secured the honor.
"The 30 honorees selected this year excelled in the classroom and in competition while also remaining committed to serving their peers and communities," said Suzette McQueen, chair of the Woman of the Year Selection Committee and senior associate commissioner for external relations and strategic marketing/senior woman administrator at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. "These outstanding women represent the thousands of diverse and talented women competing in college sports each year, and we're proud to recognize their achievements on and off the field."
The selection committee will announce the nine finalists, including three women from each NCAA division, in mid-October. From those finalists, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will select the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year. The Top 30 will be celebrated, and the Woman of the Year will be named later this fall.
Check out @SNHUPenmen's Laura van der Doorn grabbing the No. 2 spot in last night's @SportsCenter Top 10 with her impressive goal! @NFHCA @SNHU_FH @NCAADII #fieldhockey #NE10Embrace pic.twitter.com/T4bNHjxa9Q
— The NE10 (@TheNortheast10) September 14, 2019
The NCAA Woman of the Year program is rooted in Title IX and has recognized graduating female college athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership since its inception in 1991.
ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
