Azure Fernsler Named NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee
7/14/2022 3:16:00 PM | Field Hockey
KENT, Ohio — Kent State's Azure Fernsler is among the 577 nominees for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award, the NCAA announced on Thursday.
Established in 1991, the award recognizes female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in their community, in athletics and in academics throughout their college careers.
Fernsler was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year for her role in leading the Golden Flashes to a share of the MAC regular season championship and a top-25 spot in the NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll for eight consecutive weeks. She ranked eighth nationally in save percentage (.800) and 10th in saves per game (6.12) and was selected to the NFHCA) Division I Senior Team.
In addition to CoSIDA Academic All-District Women's At-Large First Team recognition as a senior, Fernsler was a five-time NFCHA Scholar of Distinction and two-time MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. She graduated in December with a degree in environmental studies.
Fernsler was also the Janet Bachna Award recipient, which recognizes a graduating Kent State female student-athlete demonstrating the most exceptional combined qualities of leadership, positive image, athletic ability and academic performance.
Conference offices will then select up to two student-athletes from their member school nominations. The Woman of the Year Selection Committee will then select 10 student-athletes from each division, determining the Top 30 honorees.
Of the Top 30, the Woman of the Year Selection Committee will announce nine finalists, three from each NCAA division. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will review the finalists and name the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year.
For the first time in the award's history, the Top 30 honorees will be celebrated, and the Woman of the Year will be named at the NCAA Convention. The 2023 Convention will take place in January in San Antonio.
To learn more about the award program and previous winners, visit ncaa.org/woty.
Be sure to follow Kent State Field Hockey on Twitter and Instagram for updates on the program.
