Women’s Lacrosse Arden Kassaleh Selected as CACC Nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year

NEW HAVEN, Conn.- Caldwell University women’s lacrosse senior Arden Kassaleh (Pompton Plains, New Jersey) was selected by the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference as the conference nominee for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

“I am so honored to represent the conference and Caldwell University as the CACC selection for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award,” said Kassaleh. “It means so much to be recognized for an award that honors women athletes in a way that means more than just playing the game.”

Kassaleh is one of 161 college athletes have been named conference-level nominees for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The nominees represent student-athletes from 21 different sports spanning all three NCAA divisions. Of those nominated, 59 nominees competed in Division I, 39 in Division II and 63 in Division III.

“We are so thankful to the CACC for selecting Arden to represent the conference for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year Award,” commented Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Mark A. Corino. “As a department, we are so proud of her athletic and academic accomplishments as part of the women’s lacrosse program. The NCAA Woman of the Year Award recognizes the best women athletes from across the country and divisions and we are honored to have Arden represent Caldwell University and the CACC for this award on the national level.”

The NCAA Woman of the Year program is rooted in Title IX and has recognized graduating female college athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership since its inception in 1991. The Woman of the Year Selection Committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will now choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division — from the conference-level nominees. The Top 30 honorees will be announced in September. From there, the selection committee will narrow the pool to three finalists from each division. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics will select the 2020 Woman of the Year from the nine finalists.

Kassaleh is a three-time all-conference selection leading the Caldwell women’s lacrosse team. She was a CACC First Team selection in 2019 after leading the nation with 5.53 goals per game. In addition, Kassaleh, was named to the 2019 Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Second Team All-Atlantic Region after leading the Cougars with 110 points on 94 goals and 16 assists. In February, she was recognized by the New Jersey Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women as Caldwell’s Woman of the Year.