Middlebury senior Erin Nicholas (Scarsdale, N.Y.) was named the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for field hockey as announced today by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.
 
Nicholas is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DIII Honda Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 46th year.
 
"I am extremely honored to be recognized for this award and owe it to my teammates, coaches, friends, and family members who have helped me reach this point," said Nicholas. "My Middlebury teammates and coaches have challenged me every day and helped me grow as both an individual and as a student-athlete. The team environment and culture I have had the privilege of experiencing these past four years is unmatched by any other. I feel so fortunate to have been surrounded by such a remarkable group of individuals and I am excited to watch the program and my teammates continue to grow in the future."
 
The midfielder was most recently named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) DIII Region II Player of the Year for the third-consecutive year. In the last two full seasons, she went on to be named the NFHCA National Player of the Year and is a two-time NFHCA First-Team All-American.
 
She led her team to an undefeated season and its fourth-straight NCAA Championship title becoming the first team ever to win four-consecutive titles. A three-time NCAA All-Tournament honoree, she also received Most Outstanding Player honors this year as well as in 2019. After conference play, she received her third-straight NESCAC Player of the Year nod and third First-Team All-NESCAC mention.
 
Nicholas finished her field hockey career at Middlebury with 161 points (65G, 31A). She ranked first in the NESCAC with 28 goals this season, which moved her into third on Middlebury's single-season list. Nicholas also led the NESCAC with nine game-winning goals and her career-high 64 points placed her third on the Panther's all-time list. 
Off the field, she is a four-time member of the NFHCA National Academic Team and a three-time NESCAC All-Academic honoree.
 
"There are so many ways to characterize Erin Nicholas – she's a dominant and relentless competitor for sure," stated head coach Katharine DeLorenzo. "What makes Erin extraordinary, though, is that she is a human blessed with many other forms of greatness. Erin is a friend in the word's purest definition. She cares for you; she makes you better.  As a teammate, Erin stays in the fray, in the mix, in the chaos of competition until the job is done.  She'll stick right with you and with the plan, unintimidated by anything. This is how she leads.  Erin Nicholas is a powerful role model to so many. She leads with grace, kindness and dedication and is never distracted from anyone path the team is on together. Erin deserves every bit of recognition she's received and yet we still don't think she could ever receive enough credit.  Her legacy both on and off the field is in her continually re-defining what the very best is.  Erin Nicholas sets new standards for herself and all of us. Coaching Erin is an extraordinary honor and watching Erin represent our team is a great honor for Middlebury College and Middlebury Field Hockey."
 
All Honda Sports nominees from DIII and DII become a finalist for the prestigious 2022 Honda Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 27, 2022, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Award finalists are recognized in 11 DIII and DII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball and track & field.
 
The CWSA, entering its 46th year, has honored the nation's top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women's athletics programs.  
 
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility
For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda's mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life's potential through its focus on the areas of education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com