UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Raquel Rodriguez has been nominated for a 2016 ESPY award, presented by ESPN. Rodriguez is on the ballot for Best Female Collegiate Athlete.
The 2016 ESPYS, hosted by John Cena, will be broadcast live on ABC July 13 at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Fans can cast their vote by voting online at http://espn.go.com/espys/2016/. Voting ends July 13 at 8 p.m. EDT.
Rodriguez capped off her historic Nittany Lion career on the field by securing the first national title for the Penn State women’s soccer team in a 1-0 win over Duke in the Women’s College Cup Final on Dec. 6, 2015. Playing for Coach Erica Walsh, Rodriguez’ goal in the 72nd minute in the championship match proved to be the difference for the Nittany Lions.
Following the College Cup victory, Rodriguez became the second member of the Penn State women’s soccer program to win the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is presented annually to the top female collegiate soccer player in the country, and she received the Honda Sport Award honoree for soccer. Rodriguez is one of 12 Honda Sport Award finalists for the Collegiate Woman of the Year award, which will be announced later this month in Los Angeles.
A recreation, park and tourism management major, Rodriguez also was selected No. 2 overall in the 2016 National Women's Soccer League College Draft by Sky Blue FC.
Rodriguez earned numerous awards in 2015-16, including: MAC Hermann Trophy winner, Honda Sport Award winner, CONCACAF Female Player of the Year nominee, Most Outstanding Player on Offense of the Women's College Cup, Women's College Cup All-Tournament Team, NSCAA Scholar Player of the Year, NSCAA Scholar First Team All-American, NSCAA All-Great Lakes First Team, NSCAA First Team All-American, All-Big Ten First Team, Academic All-Big Ten, TopDrawerSoccer Best XI First Team, TopDrawerSoccer's Player of the Year, Penn State Athletics Female Athlete of the Year and CoSIDA Academic All-District first team.
In the Penn State record books, Rodriguez ranks 16th in points (74), 18th in goals (23), T-15th in game-winning goals (nine), T-8th in assists (28), 12th in shots attempted (187), 10th in shots on goal (77) and T-17th in games started (90).
In the Penn State record books, Rodriguez ranks 16th in points (74), 18th in goals (23), T-15th in game-winning goals (nine), T-8th in assists (28), 12th in shots attempted (187), 10th in shots on goal (77) and T-17th in games started (90).