Middlebury's Jane Earley was named the Division III Honda Athlete of the Year as announced today by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda. 
 
Earley is the second-consecutive Panther to win the award, joining former teammate Erin Nicholas '22 who earned the honor a year ago. She joins an elite group as one of just three recipients in Middlebury history and one of six NESCAC honorees. Earley was tabbed the lacrosse finalist for the second-straight year. She was one of 11 total finalists, and was voted on by over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Earley is the 47th student-athlete to be honored with the accolade. 
 
"I feel so honored to be named the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year out of so many talented and driven athletes," said Earley. "I am so thankful for every minute I got to spend wearing a Middlebury jersey, and cannot thank my coaches, teammates, trainers, family, friends and professors enough for their love and support throughout my collegiate career. I am so proud to be able to represent my team and all of the hard work we put forth all year long. I would not be here without each and every one of them and their relentless effort and dedication. In addition, I am thankful to stand on the shoulders of all the Middlebury women's lacrosse players who came before me, whose legacy continues to push our team towards success."
 
For the second season in a row, Earley was selected as the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division III Player of the Year and the Attacker of the Year. A three-time IWLCA All-American, she garnered NESCAC Player of the Year for the second time, as well as first-team all-conference and all-region honors.
 
Earley led the team to the 2023 NCAA Championship and a perfect 23-0 record. The national title was the third-straight crown for the program, with Earley being a part of all three. She paced the conference in points (106) and draw controls (138), while ranking second in goals (74) and assists (32). 
 
Earley ended her Middlebury career second in the program's record books in goals (217), points (290) and draw controls (257) and is just the second player in program history to eclipse the 200-goal mark. Earley also broke the school mark for most draw controls in a single game this year, winning 13 earlier in the season. Her 106 points this year are a single-season program best, surpassing her own record of 99 from last year. This season, Earley was tabbed as the IWLCA National Player of the Week three times and the NESCAC Player of the Week twice. 
 
She earned Middlebury's Hazeltine-Klevenow Memorial Trophy given to a women's team member who best combines ability in athletics and excellence in scholarship. Earley also was the recipient of the Christian A. Johnson Prize for excellence in architecture awarded to the Middlebury graduate with the best senior thesis. She  was lauded as a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District At-Large honoree.
 
"It is such an honor to see Jane Earley recognized as the Honda Division III Athlete of the Year," said head coach Kate Livesay '03. "In her time at Middlebury, Jane has inspired and elevated the play of those around her through her tireless work ethic and her commitment to the team. Jane is tremendously talented, but even more so, she is a humble competitor. It is this humility that has driven the growth and improvement of the lacrosse program in her time at Middlebury. The earnestness of her unwavering efforts, the care and attention to the needs of her teammates, and her competitive spirit have been a special combination to behold. She has truly set the example for how to aspire and achieve big things in the classroom and on the athletic field."
 
Earley will be presented with her award in a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 26, 2023 from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) campus.
 
The CWSA, entering its 47th 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/.