INDIANAPOLIS – Mansfield University two-sport standout Laura Lawson has been nominated for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award.
 
Established in 1991 and now in its 27th year, the NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
 
Lawson is one of just 543 student-athletes across Division I, II, and III considered for the honor. She is also one of just 122 multisport student-athletes nominated.
 
As a member of the field hockey and softball programs at Mansfield, Lawson distinguished herself both on the playing field and in the classroom.
 
One of the top goaltenders in program history, Lawson finished her career third in career saves at 609 and twice led the nation in saves per game. Lawson topped the PSAC in saves per game in each of her last seasons. Her 239 saves in 2014 were the second most by a Mansfield keeper in a season. She was named the 2016 Mansfield University Fall Female Athlete of the Year and selected to the NFHCA Senior All-Star Game following her final season.
 
Lawson is a four-time NFHCA Scholar of Distinction.
 
On the softball diamond, Lawson posted a career .287 batting average with a career-high .357 in 2017. She was a two-time PSAC Central Athlete of the Week as a senior and topped the team in runs (28), hits (41), doubles (11), triples (5), and total bases (74). She posted a career .923 fielding pct.
 
This spring, Lawson became just the ninth Mansfield student-athlete across all sports to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America recognition for her athletic and academic prowess. She is also a four-time NFHCA Scholar of Distinction.

Lawson was honored as the 2016-17 Iron Mountie of the Year for her dedication to the strength & conditioning program throughout the year.
 
Lawson graduated Summa Cum Laude in May with a bachelor of science in biology and was nominated for the Outstanding Senior Award. Lawson also successfully completed Mansfield University's honors program.
 
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.