UNC’s Faasse Earns Prestigious Honda Sports Award: A Triumph for Student-Athletes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – North Carolina’s Kate Faasse has been named the Honda Sport Award winner for Soccer. This announcement came from the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) on Thursday.

Faasse, a junior forward, had an impressive season, finishing as the nation’s top scorer with 20 goals. She also ranked second overall with 44 total points. Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, she made a significant impact during the Tar Heels’ run to the national championship. Notably, she scored a crucial game-winning golden goal against Penn State in the national quarterfinals and netted two goals in the title match at the 2024 Ally ACC Women’s Soccer Championship. Her postseason performance earned her a place on the All-Tournament team, having scored four goals across three games. As a result of her accomplishments, she was selected for the United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team.

Faasse was one of four finalists for the award, all from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). She competed against Maggie Graham from Duke, Taylor Huff from Florida State, and Caiya Hanks from Wake Forest. This marked the first time all finalists for the Honda Award in Soccer came from the same conference, showcasing the ACC’s depth in women’s soccer.

The Honda Sport Award has a long history, presented by the CWSA for 49 years. It highlights top female athletes in 12 NCAA sports, celebrating excellence on and off the field. Faasse is also in contention for the prestigious Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the 2025 Honda Cup. The award will be presented during a live ceremony on CBS Sports Network in June.

The CWSA, celebrating its 49th year, recognizes NCAA women’s athletes for their achievements in sports, leadership, and academics. Since 1986, Honda has donated over $3.4 million in grants to support women’s athletics programs at universities.

With this honor, Faasse becomes the 15th player from the ACC to win the Honda Sports Award for soccer, the highest of any conference. She is also the 11th player in North Carolina’s history to receive this award, making her the first Tar Heel winner since Crystal Dunn in the 2012-13 season.

Previous Honda Sports Award Winners for Soccer from the ACC:

• 1989-90: Shannon Higgins, North Carolina
• 1991-92: Kristine Lilly, North Carolina
• 1992-93: Mia Hamm, North Carolina
• 1993-94: Mia Hamm, North Carolina
• 1996-97: Cindy Daws, Notre Dame
• 1999-00: Lorrie Fair, North Carolina
• 2000-01: Meredith Florance, North Carolina
• 2003-04: Catherine Reddick, North Carolina
• 2006-07: Heather O’Reilly, North Carolina
• 2008-09: Casey Nogueira, North Carolina
• 2009-10: Whitney Engen, North Carolina
• 2010-11: Melissa Henderson, Notre Dame
• 2011-12: Teresa Noyola, Stanford
• 2012-13: Crystal Dunn, North Carolina
• 2017-18: Andi Sullivan, Stanford
• 2018-19: Natalia Kuikka, Florida State
• 2019-20: Catarina Macario, Stanford
• 2021-22: Jaelin Howell, Florida State
• 2023-24: Onyi Echegini, Florida State
• 2024-25: Kate Faasse, North Carolina

Source link