University of North Carolina Athletics
Natalie Chandler
Photo by: Shane Lardinois
Chandler Wins NCAA Elite 90 Award At Women's College Cup
December 5, 2019 | Women's Soccer, Academics
Junior midfielder is fourth Tar Heel women's soccer player to win award.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. --- Natalie Chandler, a junior at the University of the North Carolina, is the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2019 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship.
Chandler, majoring in health policy and management, currently carries a perfect 4.0 GPA. Chandler was presented with the award during the NCAA Women's College Cup banquet on Thursday evening, December 5 in San Jose, Calif.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
Chandler is the fourth Tar Heel women's soccer player to win the award joining Kristi Eveland in 2009, Caitlin Ball in 2012 and Frances Reuland in 2016.
Other Tar Heel athletes to win Elite 90 awards include Bill Dworsky (men's soccer) in 2009, Meredith Newton (women's lacrosse) in 2010, Marta Malmberg (field hockey) in 2011, Loren Shealy (field hockey) in 2012, 2013 and 2014, Paige Hanson (women's lacrosse) in 2013, Alex Comsia (men's soccer) in 2016 and Abby Pitcairn (field hockey) in 2019.
UNC has had two Elite 90 winners in the 2019-20 school year. Since the awards began in 2009, UNC is fourth in all-time honorees behind Stanford, Alabama and Nebraska.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite-90.
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Chandler, majoring in health policy and management, currently carries a perfect 4.0 GPA. Chandler was presented with the award during the NCAA Women's College Cup banquet on Thursday evening, December 5 in San Jose, Calif.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
Chandler is the fourth Tar Heel women's soccer player to win the award joining Kristi Eveland in 2009, Caitlin Ball in 2012 and Frances Reuland in 2016.
Other Tar Heel athletes to win Elite 90 awards include Bill Dworsky (men's soccer) in 2009, Meredith Newton (women's lacrosse) in 2010, Marta Malmberg (field hockey) in 2011, Loren Shealy (field hockey) in 2012, 2013 and 2014, Paige Hanson (women's lacrosse) in 2013, Alex Comsia (men's soccer) in 2016 and Abby Pitcairn (field hockey) in 2019.
UNC has had two Elite 90 winners in the 2019-20 school year. Since the awards began in 2009, UNC is fourth in all-time honorees behind Stanford, Alabama and Nebraska.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite-90.
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