BERKELEY, Calif. - Kara Rahaim has been named the Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2023 season, the conference office announced Thursday prior to Stanford's first game at the Pac-12 Tournament. Rahaim is Stanford's second selection since the Pac-12 sponsored lacrosse in 2018, joining Kelsey Murray who was the 2018 selection.
Rahaim is currently in graduate school for public policy and completing her undergraduate studies in management science & engineering. The Ridgewood, N.J., native boasts a 4.08 undergraduate grade-point average while continuing advanced coursework on The Farm with a 3.87 graduate GPA.
Excelling on and off the field, the goalkeeper is a two-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll recipient, and earned IWLCA Academic Honor Roll recognition last season. She is a two-time Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year, helping the Cardinal to consecutive Pac-12 regular-season and Tournament titles in 2021 and 2022.
Rahaim has the third-most saves (405) and the fourth-most ground balls (111) in Pac-12 history. This season, she started in all 17 games for the Cardinal, allowing just 12.12 goals per game and boasting a .454 save percentage. Her 167 saves this season are the ninth-most in NCAA Division I.
In order to be eligible for the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, student-athletes must be a senior (in athletics eligibility) on track to receive a degree, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, participate in at least 50 percent of the scheduled contests in the sport and have a minimum one year in residence at the institution. Each Pac-12 institution may nominate one individual per sport, and the winners are selected by a committee of Pac-12 staff members at the conclusion of each sport's regular season. The athletics accomplishments of the nominees are a consideration in voting for the award.
Rahaim is looking to secure Stanford's third consecutive Pac-12 Lacrosse Tournament title this weekend, with action kicking off for the Cardinal against Colorado on Thursday night in the semifinals.