September 18, 2008
Center Valley, Pa.- Navy senior goalkeeper Lizzie Barnes and Army senior goalkeeper A.J. Glubzinski have been selected as candidates for the 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in the women's soccer and men's soccer divisions on Wednesday.
Thirty student-athletes in each division receive consideration for the award, one of the most prestigious honors in college athletics, given annually to senior NCAA Division I student-athletes across nine sports. The Lowe's Senior CLASS Award is distinctive from many other honors in that on-the-field performance is only one factor in determining candidacy - a major emphasis is placed on off-the-field commitments and personal character.
It is the second consecutive year that two Patriot League student-athletes have received consideration for the award. In 2007, Navy's Kari Weniger was one of 20 candidates for the women's soccer division and Navy's Evan Barnes was the eventual winner of the inaugural Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for the men's soccer division.
From the list of 30 candidates, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in both divisions in October. Those 10 names from each division will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote beginning October 9 and concluding November 19. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award. Winners will be announced during the 2008 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship in Cary, North Carolina, scheduled for December 5-7, and during the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's soccer Championship in Frisco, Texas, scheduled for December 12-14.
Both Barnes and Glubzinski have exceeded the many academic, athletic and professional demands of life at their respective academies.
Barnes has been a key factor in leading the Navy's women's soccer team to its most successful run in the program's 15-year history, developing into one of the nation's best goalkeepers while leading the program to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
In 2006, Barnes finished the year as the nation's leader in goals-against average (0.29) and save percentage (.933) while becoming the first Mid to be named Patriot League BRINE Goalkeeper of the Year. Barnes was also the only goalkeeper that year to be named a CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-American.
This season, Barnes owns a 0.85 goals-against average and .848 save percentage through six games and has twice earned Patriot League BRINE Goalkeeper of the Week honors. Barnes is Navy's all-time goals-against average leader at 0.67, and further etched herself into the Navy records by setting a new program record with her 23rd career shutout this past weekend.
Barnes boasts a 3.86 cumulative grade-point average at the Naval Academy, double-majoring in information technology and computer science. She has also been active in the soccer team's many community service projects, including clinics with Special Olympics children, Toys for Tots, and an annual spring fundraiser to raise money for breast cancer awareness. Additionally, she has volunteered at Light House, an Annapolis-area homeless shelter.
Glubzinski compiled a 7-6-1 record, including six shutouts, in 14 starts and over 1,263 minutes played in the 2007 season. He ranked among the Patriot League leaders with a paltry 0.93 goals-against average and an .800 save percentage. In 2006, Glubzinski started 10 games, finishing with a 7-3 record. He has been the starting goalkeeper for both of Army's wins over Navy the past two seasons. Glubzinski has received three consecutive Patriot League Academic Honor Roll designations, from 2005 through 2007.
This season, Glubzinski is the senior captain and starting goalkeeper for the Cadets. Glubzinski is among the Patriot League leaders in goals-against average, saves, save percentage and saves per game.
Glubzinski has earned a 4.001 cumulative grade-point average at the West Point, which measures a cadet's overall academic, military and physical performance combined. An American Politics with Honors major, Glubzinski is a candidate for both the Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships, and has already interviewed for the Rotary Ambassadorial Foundation Scholarship. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi national collegiate honor society and was a CoSIDA Second-Team Academic All-American last year.
Glubzinski interned with a social outreach program called "First Helping" during the summer of 2008, where he served daily meals and provided social services to homeless and low-income individuals in the greater Washington, D.C. area. The senior runs the biannual Army Youth Soccer Clinic for children in the West Point area and is a founder of CURED, the Campaign Urging Research for Eosinophilic Disease, and a bowl-a-thon to contribute to research on a rare digestive disease incurred by a high school classmate. Glubzinski also aspires to be the mayor of Detroit.
"The caliber of individuals in this year's senior class of soccer players made narrowing the field to 30 for each category very difficult," said Bob Gfeller, Lowe's senior vice president of marketing and advertising. "We are ecstatic to see how many talented senior student-athletes are electing to use their skills not only on the playing field, but also in the classroom and in the community."
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched during the 2001-02 season in response to the trend of college basketball players leaving college early to turn professional. The award was conceived by sportscaster Dick Enberg, who continues to serve as Honorary Chairman, and has recognized winners in men's and women's basketball for seven years. Lowe's extended the award in 2006 to include baseball, softball, men's hockey and men's lacrosse, then in 2007 added men's and women's soccer. The award will also include the sport of football this fall, bringing the total awards program to nine NCAA Division I sports.
