WOMEN'S SOCCER

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Jean-A. Tassy

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's soccer team will be honored with the Citizenship Through Sports Award on June 15 in Lake Buena Vista, FL as part of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Convention. The award, sponsored by the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance, recognizes selected athletes for their contributions to the highest ethical standards in sport.

UB is being honored for their actions on the day of November 5, 2002. It was on that day that tragedy struck the Bowling Green women's soccer team as one of its players, Leslie Dawley, collapsed and died on the field in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Championship Game. The game was halted and resumed the following day with the host Falcons winning 2-1 in double-overtime. However, it was the actions of head coach Jean-A. Tassy and the UB women's soccer team on that day that moved Bowling Green to nominate Buffalo for the award.

Prior to the start of the game, UB chose to warm up on an adjacent practice field. The team did not want to disturb the area where Dawley had collapsed less that 20 hours earlier and wanted to give Bowling Green some time to reflect as a team. During player introductions, each UB player handed a single yellow rose to their counterpart, exchanging hugs and tears. Following the introductions, the teams joined hands in a circle in the middle of the field for a moment of silence to honor Dawley.

In an excerpt from the nomination letter, Bowling Green representatives wrote: "Everyone that was involved with the events of November 5th and 6th at Bowling Green State University will not soon forget the character and sportsmanship that was displayed by the University at Buffalo's Women's Soccer Team and Coaching Staff. It is this type of character and sportsmanship that makes collegiate athletics so great. These acts of compassion by the Buffalo players and coaching staff were not lost on the more than 700 fans that filled the stands that day and a number were heard to comment that they had never witnessed such sportsmanship."

Tassy and co-captain Devon Russell will travel to Lake Buena Vista, FL and accept the award on behalf of the team on June 15.

Other recipients of the 2003 Citizenship Through Sports Award will be Jim Thome (Philadelphia Phillies), Bob Lanier (former Detroit Piston), Jennifer Gillom (Phoenix Mercury), Jessica Lenderman (Vanguard University) and Melanie Mendrop (Hinds Community College).