Nov. 4, 2009

Center Valley, Pa. — Colgate senior goalkeeper Sarah Pedersen was named the 2009 Patriot League Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Wednesday in a vote of the League's field hockey sports information directors. 

Pedersen, a biology major with a 3.98 GPA, is a two-time Charles A. Dana Scholar, which recognizes superior academic achievement as well as demonstrated leadership in the college community. 

The three-year starter is a member of Tri-Beta Society (Biology Honor Society) and has been named to the Dean’s List (3.5 or higher) every semester on campus. She also was named to the Raider Academic Honor Roll (every semester on campus), the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll (Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Fall 2008) and the National Field Hockey Academic Honor Roll (all three years). Pedersen was a member of Phi Eta Sigma Society (Freshman Honor Society). 

Pedersen, who became the first Colgate player to win the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award since 1997 (Becky Evans), was named a Second-Team All-Patriot League goalkeeper as a sophomore. 

In 2009, she started all 16 games in the cage for the Raiders and led the League in saves with 121. Her 7.53 saves per game ranked 14th in the nation at the end of the regular season. 

To be eligible for the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average and be a starter or key player in his/her sport. Freshmen are not eligible for this honor. The award is voted on by the Patriot League’s women’s soccer sports information directors. 

The Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for each individual sport comprises the pool of nominees for the Patriot League Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards given out over the summer. One male and one female are selected for this honor.