Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/356132
BY WHITELAW REID T AKING HOME PRESTIGIOUS awards is old hat for Morgan Brian. Heck, she won an ESPY before she even got to Virginia. But that didn't make winning UVa's Female Athlete of the Year award this past spring any less satisfying. Brian said it was a humbling experience. "It was a huge honor," Brian said. "There are a bunch of good athletes [at UVa] who have had great years and good seasons. "I'm just very thankful." As a third-year last season, Brian scored 16 goals, added 14 assists and helped lead Virginia to the College Cup (the equivalent to basketball's Final Four) for the first time under head coach Steve Swanson. UVa finished the campaign with a 24-1-1 re- cord. At season's end, Brian took home just about every award and accolade that exists for a female college soccer player. The St. Simons Island, Ga., native was the MAC Hermann Trophy winner as the country's top player; she was both the Soccer America and TopDrawerSoccer.com Na- tional Player of the Year; and she was a first-team NSCAA All-American. The list goes on and on. "It was a very special season — not only for her but for the team," Swanson said. "I think what's great is how well the team performed throughout the year. It was great because Morgan's all about the team. It was because the team did so well that Morgan was able to earn the respect from the soccer community in terms of all the awards that she won. "I think Morgan herself would say she'd much rather have the team win the national champion- ship overall than those awards. But the fact that we almost got to the promised land and that she garnered all those awards — I think she can feel good about how far she helped the team come and the team can feel good about how much they helped Morgan because they both needed each other." Just about the only award Brian didn't win was the ESPY for Best Female College Athlete. Brian, FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR MORGAN BRIAN AWARD WORTHY Morgan Brian Picked Up Individual Honors, But Remains Focused On The Team