CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) is proud to announce its 2019 Women's Fall Scholar Athlete of the Year honorees. During each season, the conference recognizes student-athletes for their efforts in their sport, as well as their academics. Out of hundreds of fall athletes, one athlete from each sport was selected for this distinction.
In order to be eligible for the SUNYAC Scholar Athlete of the Year award student-athletes must prove both academic and athletic excellence by obtaining a minimum 3.30 overall GPA, be a starter or significant reserve for their team, and be at least a sophomore. The SUNYAC Scholar Athlete Award originated in 2016-17.
Cassandra Williams, New Paltz - Cross Country
Williams is a mathematics major at New Paltz and has maintained a 3.97 cumulative GPA through the fall of her junior year. She was a 2019 NCAA DIII national qualifier, becoming just the fourth Hawks women's runner to do so. Williams was named All-Region after placing 16th overall at the NCAA DIII Atlantic Regional meet and earned first team All-SUNYAC honors after finishing fourth at the SUNYAC Championship meet which earned her a spot in the SUNYAC Cross Country Hall of Fame. Williams also earned her second-straight SUNYAC Elite 20 Award this season for her academic excellence.
Carly Croteau, New Paltz - Field Hockey
The junior early childhood/childhood education major holds a 3.61 cumulative GPA at New Paltz. She was named to the 2019 All-Conference first team and was honored on the NFHCA All-North Atlantic Region second team. Croteau started in all 18 games this season and totaled 21 points with eight goals and five assists.
Taylor Clar, Geneseo - Women's Soccer
Clar holds a 3.78 overall GPA at Geneseo as an accounting major in her senior year. She was named the 2019 SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Year and named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region team. Clar was also honored on the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region team and the CoSIDA Academic All-District team. She is just the second Geneseo women's soccer player in program history to be a four-time All-Region selection.
Laura Koob, New Paltz - Women's Tennis
The sophomore management major holds a 3.77 cumulative GPA at New Paltz. Koob was named to the first team All-SUNYAC team in singles play for the second straight year, while also earning Doubles Team of the Year and first team doubles with teammate Trinity Chow. Koob and Chow went undefeated in SUNYAC doubles play and in singles play Koob went undefeated at 8-0 in SUNYAC and was 16-2 overall to help lead her team to its second-straight SUNYAC championship title.
Lauren Fie, Oswego - Volleyball
The senior middle hitter currently carries a 3.97 overall GPA in psychology for Oswego and has minors in both sports studies and nutrition. Fie was recently named CoSIDA Academic All-District and was also named to the All-Conference second team this past season. She was second on the team in points with 294 and led Oswego with a .292 attack percentage, 69 blocks, and was second in kills with 211.