FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Courtesy of Lasell Athletics Communications

NEWTON, Mass. - Lasell College class of 2017 women's soccer standout Mack Kingman has been named  the 2017 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Woman of the Year and will be put forth as the conference's nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year.

Kingman was a four-year member of the women's soccer program, finishing her career third in program history with 85 games played including 84 starts. She played a key role in helping the women's soccer team to four consecutive GNAC championships with a record of 41-0-3 in GNAC play over the last four years.

"Being recognized by the GNAC with this award caps the end of a special year and career at Lasell" said Kingman, "I've been fortunate to play with great teammates and for great coaches throughout my career and I'm honored to receive an award that embodies all of the things that our program promotes". 

A three-time All-GNAC honoree and two-time All-New England selection, this past year she became the first female in Lasell College history this year to be named an All-American. Kingman played in 85 games over her career the third most in program history starting all but one in four years, and in 2016, the program's winningest season, she anchored a defense that allowed 18 goals in 22 contests, posting 10 of its 18 wins by shutout. The 2016 squad opened the season with a pair of narrow losses to Brandeis and Keene State and a double overtime draw with Johnson & Wales before reeling off 18 straight wins heading into an NCAA Tournament match against Amherst College.

"Who I am today has been shaped heavily through my collegiate soccer career and has led to a more confident, well-rounded leader that is excited to impact the community and world in meaningful ways" said Kingman. 

"Mack has deeply impacted our program since day one of her freshman year," commented head coach Vito LaFrancesca. "She came to us as an attacking midfielder and played a little defense her sophomore year. It wasn't until this year that she converted to a permanent defender. Much of our success as a program has been a direct result of her leadership, talent and willingness to sacrifice everything for her team."

A Hospitality Management major and senior captain, Kingman earned her degree with honors in May, graduating with a 3.78 grade point average. Kingman has also been very active in the community throughout her collegiate career, helping collect clothing and other household necessities to underdeveloped areas of Guatemala, working with the United Parish on their seasonal pumpkin patch and volunteering on event preparation for the Heartbreak Hill Road Race. In addition to those two initiatives, Kingman has been able to take her passion for soccer and her passion for helping people in a pair of initiatives, working with the American Diabetes Association as a Special Events Intern and event volunteer and as a coach with TOPSoccer where she volunteered as a coach for children with disabilities. Kingman is the first Lasell student-athlete to have been recognized as the GNAC Woman of the Year.

"It is an honor for us to have Mackenzie recognized as the GNAC Woman of the Year," said Director of Athletics Kristy Walter. "She has made an incredible impact on the women's soccer program, our athletic department and our campus community as a whole during her time here and the recognition is well deserved."

A record 543 female college athletes were nominated this year by NCAA member schools for the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year award. Now in its 27th year, the award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

The school nominees represent all three NCAA divisions, with 229 from Division I, 117 from Division II and 197 from Division III. The nominees competed in 21 different women's sports, and 122 were multisport athletes during their time in college.

The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership. The 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced on October 22nd in Indianapolis.

Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and nearly 4,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement. 

– #TheGNAC –