WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Julie Spracklin, a recent graduate and member of the Monmouth University women's soccer program, has been announced as a nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

Established in 1991 and now in its 27th year, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award recognizes exceptional student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service, and leadership. There are 543 nominees for this year's award, which is the most ever in the history of the Woman of the Year program. 229 of those nominees come from the Division I ranks and 84 are women's soccer student-athletes.

Spracklin earned the nomination following a stellar senior season in which she led the program to its fourth NCAA Tournament berth. A starter on defense in every game, Spracklin helped Monmouth's back line record 11 shutouts, including seven during conference play, and the unit led the MAAC in goals-against average at 0.92. Individually, Spracklin contributed four goals and five assists on the year and earned a number of individual accolades, including First Team All-MAAC honors, NSCAA Scholar All-Region First Team recognition and was an NSCAA Scholar All-American selection.

A Health Studies major, Spracklin graduated with a 3.55 grade-point average, and was one of 30 NCAA women's soccer student-athletes named as a candidate for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award in collegiate soccer during the fall semester. Spracklin participated in a number of community service initiatives, including US Youth Soccer's TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer). The Monmouth's women's soccer program adopted Emily Calabro through Team IMPACT prior to the 2015 season and she is still an active part of the team today. Spracklin participated in Write-On-Sports Camp, where she spoke to aspiring young sports writers and also attended Women in Sports Day at a conference for Middle School aged female athletes. She has volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Branch, NJ and at the Monmouth County SPCA Adopt-A-Dog Day.

Next, conferences will select up to two conference nominees each from the pool of school nominees. The Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will then choose the top 30 honorees — 10 from each division.

From the top 30, the selection committee determines the top three honorees from each division and announces the nine finalists in September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then chooses the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year from those nine.

The top 30 honorees will be recognized and the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at the annual award ceremony Oct. 22 in Indianapolis.