Onetime Pitt Meadows high school soccer standout Nikki Stanley is on the verge of graduating from university with honours, and was recognized for her academic achievements.
Stanley, now a Grand Canyon University women’s soccer player, was recently honored for her academic excellence by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
The senior, who holds an impressive 3.98 GPA, almost straight As, was named a Scholar All-West Region Honorable Mention honoree. Out of 305 NCAA teams, just 44 players are selected for the honour.
“It is a great honor for Nikki Stanley to be selected to the 2014 NSCAA Scholar All-West Region Team ...” said head coach Stevie Gill.
“Nikki deserves every accolade, as she is an excellent student and a wonderful kid. Her smile is infectious and she has been a pleasure to coach during her time spent here at GCU.”
Stanley started 12 games for GCU this season and was instrumental on a team back line that posted four shutouts.
The Lopes finished the 2014 season tied for third in the Western Athletic Conference after winning seven of their final eight games.
Stanley started her post secondary career at New Mexico Highlands University, choosing from among six schools that had courted her. She was a centre midfielder who held get the Pitt Meadows Marauders into the high school provincials for the first time in a decade, and also won a provincial title with the Langley FC U-18 Metro soccer team.
She jumped to NCAA Division 1 soccer, and has been in the starting lineup for the last two years at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.
Stanley will graduate with honors in April, with a Bachelors of Science Degree, – double major in education and special education and yesterday.