Christine Sinclair, the unanimous women’s soccer national player of the year, was also named the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year
SAN BRUNO, Calif. --- University of Portland women’s soccer star Christine Sinclair was named the 2006 West Coast Conference Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, Commissioner Michael Gilleran announced on Thursday. Sinclair, who had one of the most impressive athletic seasons in collegiate sports history, is the fifth female recipient from Portland to receive the honor, the most of any WCC school.
Pepperdine baseball player Nick Kliebert was named the WCC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year.
The honor, which is considered the most highly-regarded in the WCC, is selected by a vote of the WCC’s institutional representatives to recognize the finest accomplishments in athletics, academics and community service by individuals who have completed their WCC eligibility.
Sinclair was unparalleled on the soccer pitch, setting an NCAA single season record in 2005 with 39 goals. She capped the season with two goals in the national championship game, helping Portland win its second NCAA Championship in four years.
A unanimous first team All-America and national player of the year, Sinclair became just the third women’s soccer player ever to win the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy in consecutive years. She also was selected as the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American of the Year.
The WCC and University of Portland all-time leader in goals scored (110) and points (252), Sinclair was also the only collegiate player selected as a finalist for FIFA World Player of the Year honors in 2005.
Sinclair graduated in December with a life science degree and is currently captaining the Canadian World Cup Team.
University of Portland WCC Scholar Athletes of the Year
Female (5)
2006, Christine Sinclair (Soccer)
2004, Imani Dorsey (Soccer)
1993, Nikki Rosenfeldt (Volleyball)
1992, Martha Sheldon (Basketball)
1989, Tracy Thorne (Cross Country)
Male (3)
2000, Bryan Bothwell (Cross Country)
1997, Uli Steidl (Cross Country)
1993, Jason Boykoff (Soccer)
