STANFORD, Calif. – Senior midfielder and MAC Hermann Trophy finalist Andi Sullivan was named the Honda Sport Award winner for soccer, as announced Wednesday by the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards.
With this honor, Sullivan becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2018 Honda Cup, which will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 27 in Los Angeles.
"I am extremely honored to receive the Honda Award and grateful for its continued support of women's collegiate athletics," said Sullivan. "I have had truly amazing experiences playing soccer, particularly at Stanford. It has been a blessing to be a part of such an incredible institution made up of so many inspirational people."
Sullivan, a three-year captain from Lorton, Virginia, capped her illustrious Stanford career by lifting the College Cup on Dec. 3. The 2017 Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year, Sullivan won the Senior CLASS Award and was named first-team All-Pac-12 and All-Pacific Region for the fourth time. She is a member of the full United States National Team (seven caps), and finished her remarkable stay on The Farm with 20 goals, 19 assists and eight game winners.
"It has been a privilege to coach Andi for four seasons," said head coach Paul Ratcliffe. "She is one of the best leaders and most competitive student-athletes we have ever had at Stanford. She strives for excellence in everything she does, and this award is a testament to her hard work and determination."
After winning Pac-12 Player of the Year and leading the team in goals (11) and points (29) as a junior in 2016, Sullivan assumed a deeper role protecting the back four this season. She controlled the tempo of play, could interchange with any of Stanford's defenders, broke up play with her tackling ability, accurately delivered set pieces and was a threat to make powerful runs into the box.
"My family, teammates, athletic trainers, strength coaches, physical therapists, fellow students, professors and the entire Stanford community have always pushed and supported me, and I am beyond appreciative of that. I cannot thank them all enough, and I will never forget the impact they have had on me as a player and a person. I also want to thank all of our fans for their continued support of the program this season and throughout my stay at Stanford," added Sullivan.
The @TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year, @sunshine_sully is one of three finalists for the @HermannTrophy, with the winner announced Jan. 5.
— Stanford Women's Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) December 19, 2017
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The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 42 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and signifies "the best of the best in collegiate athletics".
Sullivan was chosen by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Imani Dorsey (Duke), Jessie Fleming (UCLA) and Savannah McCaskill (South Carolina).
Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.1 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women's athletics programs at the institutions. Last season, Stanford swimmer Katie Ledecky won the Honda Cup.