Senior defender Alyssa Manley from the University of Syracuse was named the Honda Sport Award winner for field hockey today as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) today.

The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 40 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”.  With this honor, Manley becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2016 Honda Cup which will be presented on a live telecast on June 27, 2016, in the Founders’ Room at the Galen Center on the campus of the University of Southern California in downtown Los, Angeles.

Manley was chosen by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Lauren Blazing (Duke), Sarah Sprink (Maryland) and Roisin Upton (UConn)

“I'm very honored that I was voted for this award,” stated Manley. “It's really indescribable. Everything that has happened through this whole year and my time here has been really great and I'm just truly grateful for everyone in my time here that has helped me to this point."

A senior defender from Lititz, Pa., Manley led her team to the 2015 NCAA Championship title and was the fourth player in program history to earn All-America honors three times in her career after a NFHCA first-team nod this season. She was the 2015 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-ACC.

As a team captain, she registered four goals and seven assists from the backfield in 2015. She was one-of-two collegiate players to represent the U.S at the Pan Am games in 2014-15 and helped the U.S. qualify for the 2016 Olympics.

“I'm thrilled for Alyssa Manley,” said head coach Ange Bradley. She's one of the most humble and hard-working athletes you'd ever meet. For her to think about where she started to this point - the pinnacle of her collegiate career - is just awesome."

“She's been a mainstay in our midfield role. She was the core of our system. She kept the ball moving, she played fast and she was dynamic. She really set a standard for Syracuse field hockey for being a fluid and attacking team that can really play through the midfield."

Honda Sport Award winners will be presented with the honor during on-campus presentations throughout the year.

The CWSA, celebrating its 40^th year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its sponsorship thirty years ago in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.0 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.