Northwestern University's Taylor Thornton Receives Honda Sports Award for Lacrosse

LOS ANGELES, June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Taylor Thornton, who scored the final goal in Northwestern University's 8-6 victory over Syracuse for the 2012 NCAA championship, is the Honda Sports Award winner for lacrosse. Thornton's selection by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program recognizes her as the country's top female athlete in her sport.

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Thornton was named the 2012 American Lacrosse Conference Player of the Year and is a two-time first-team All-American. She earned All-Tournament Team honors at both the ALC and NCAA championships in 2011 and 2012. As a sophomore she started in all 23 games for the Wildcats and in all 22 games as a freshman, and has been a major factor in Northwestern's lacrosse dominance: The Wildcats have won the national championship in women's lacrosse seven of the last eight years.

Thornton attended the Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas, where she was a two-time Texas Player of the Year. A junior at Northwestern, she is majoring in communication studies.

The Honda Sports Award is presented annually to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. As a Honda prize recipient, Thornton becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious Honda Cup. She was chosen by a vote of coaches from 1,000 NCAA member schools.  Finalists included Brittany Dashiell of the University of Florida, Sarah Plumb of Dartmouth College, and Katie Schwarzmann of the University of Maryland.   Joining Thornton on the current roster of  2012 Honda Sports Award winners are  Sheila Reid of Villanova University (Cross Country), Megan Frazer of the University of Maryland (Field Hockey), Teresa Noyola of Stanford University (Soccer), Alex Jupiter of the University of Southern California (Volleyball), Caitlin Leverenz of the University of California, Berkeley (Swimming & Diving), Brittney Griner of Baylor University (Basketball), Kytra Hunter of the University of Florida (Gymnastics), Brooke Pancake of the University of Alabama (Golf), Nicole Gibbs of Stanford University (Tennis), and 2012 Honda Inspiration Award Winner, Elena Delle Donne of the University of Delaware (Basketball).

Media Contacts:

CWSA Media Contact, Ann Herold
310-963-1860, [email protected]

Northwestern University, Scott Hammer,
847-491-8800, [email protected]

SOURCE Honda Sports Award