Pakhtigian Named Atlantic 10 Scholar Athlete of the Year
Thursday, July 11, 2013
PHILADELPHIA - Gabrielle Pakhtigian has been named the 2012-13 Atlantic 10 Conference co-Scholar-Athlete Athlete of the Year, it was announced by the Conference office yesterday.
Voted on by the league's Directors of Athletics, the award is given to the best overall male and female student-athlete, based on their athletic success and academic prowess. There was a tie in the voting for both the men's and women's award, marking the first tie in the voting since 1995-96 and the first-ever tie for the women's award.
“I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to represent our team and school in this way,” Pakhtigian said. “The La Salle women's soccer family means the world to me and I'm honored to represent the talent of such a special group of people.”
Pakhtigian, who last week was named one of two Atlantic 10 NCAA Woman of the Year nominees, graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in nursing and a 3.90 GPA.
“Only because of Jesus was I able to have success in the classroom or on the field,” she said. “This recognition is really a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and focus of the girls and our coaches and staff.”
The starting goalkeeper for the Explorers last season, Pakhtigian earned first team all-conference honors in leading the Explorers to their first-ever A-10 title and second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
“Our entire staff and team are incredibly proud of Gabby's remarkable accomplishment,” head coach Paul Royal said. “Gabby's dedication to her academics, teammates, University and faith is the pinnacle of what we want from our La Salle student-athletes. It's an extraordinary award for an exceptional person.”
The North Wales, Pa. native led the A-10 with nine shutouts and ranked fifth in goals against average (0.94). She ranks second all-time at La Salle in wins (32), second in shutouts (16.5) and third all-time in goals against average.
Pakhtigian also served as La Salle Women's soccer's SAAC representative as well as serving on the Student Affairs Committee. She was selected to the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American and All-District Teams, and twice earned a spot on the A-10 All-Academic Team. She was also a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society and a four-year member of the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Pakhtigian shares the award with a familiar face, fellow women's soccer student-athlete Colleen Williams of Dayton.
Be sure to watch the Feature Friday interview with Gabrielle Pakhtigian from October of 2012 to learn more about this exceptional former student-athlete.
via goexplorers.com
