Ali Named a Senior CLASS Award Finalist
Apr 07 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Senior forward Amirah Ali of Rutgers women's soccer has been named a finalist for the Senior CLASS award. Ballots are now distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character, and competition.
Fans can vote for Ali staring April 7 through May 3 by clicking here.
Ali burst into 2020 with a career-high two goals in the season opening, 3-2 win over Penn State, currently leading the team with five goals in the regular season. The team captain is an exemplary Scarlet Knight with her strong work in the classroom and dedication to the community. She is also a candidate for the 2020-21 MAC Hermann Trophy, the most prestigious award in collegiate soccer given to the most outstanding male and female players of the year.
Ali, a two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten recipient, was recognized as a semifinalist last season for the award after posting nine goals and four assists. Her performance helped lift RU to a second-place finish in the Big Ten for a second consecutive campaign. Of Ali's four game winners on the year, three came in overtime to solidify her as the program-leader with eight career golden goals.
In the classroom, the criminal justice major is an Academic All-Big Ten honoree and two-time Dean's List honoree. She is a two-time team captain entering the 2020-21 season. In the community, Ali participates in various team initiatives, including the Bobadilla Summer Soccer Academy, holiday food and toy drives, and the RFund Thank-A-Thon.
While Ali participates in many community service events, Special Friends Day stands out the most and is something she really enjoys. An annual event held at the Cook/Douglass Recreation Center, Special Friends Day provides special needs youth ages 6 to 21 a day of fun with Rutgers University students. Ali loves getting to know her friend for the day and watching them have the best time there.
In 2019, the Voorhees, New Jersey, native helped push RU to its eighth straight NCAA Tournament, 10th in the last 12 seasons, and 14th time overall. On the conference side, Ali guided the Scarlet Knights to their sixth straight Big Ten Tournament since joining the league in 2014, advancing to their third Big Ten semifinal.
The 2017 Big Ten Freshman of the Year has started all 73 games since her arrival "On the Banks" in 2017, tallying a total of 72 career points (30 g, 12a). Her name is etched across the Rutgers career and single-season charts. She ranks fifth in career points (72), fifth in career goals (30), fourth in career game winning goals (12), and first in single season overtime goals (4).
The senior forward was recently drafted into the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) by Portland Thorns FC and will finish her final collegiate seasons this spring and fall before heading West.
ABOUT THE SENIOR CLASS AWARD
The men's and women's Senior CLASS Award candidate classes, was narrowed to 10 finalists with those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots are now distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character, and competition. Fans can vote by clicking here.
The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2021 NCAA Men's and Women's College Cup® championships in May.
Follow Rutgers women's soccer on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Download the Scarlet Knights App for Apple or Android today.
Fans can vote for Ali staring April 7 through May 3 by clicking here.
Ali burst into 2020 with a career-high two goals in the season opening, 3-2 win over Penn State, currently leading the team with five goals in the regular season. The team captain is an exemplary Scarlet Knight with her strong work in the classroom and dedication to the community. She is also a candidate for the 2020-21 MAC Hermann Trophy, the most prestigious award in collegiate soccer given to the most outstanding male and female players of the year.
Ali, a two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten recipient, was recognized as a semifinalist last season for the award after posting nine goals and four assists. Her performance helped lift RU to a second-place finish in the Big Ten for a second consecutive campaign. Of Ali's four game winners on the year, three came in overtime to solidify her as the program-leader with eight career golden goals.
In the classroom, the criminal justice major is an Academic All-Big Ten honoree and two-time Dean's List honoree. She is a two-time team captain entering the 2020-21 season. In the community, Ali participates in various team initiatives, including the Bobadilla Summer Soccer Academy, holiday food and toy drives, and the RFund Thank-A-Thon.
While Ali participates in many community service events, Special Friends Day stands out the most and is something she really enjoys. An annual event held at the Cook/Douglass Recreation Center, Special Friends Day provides special needs youth ages 6 to 21 a day of fun with Rutgers University students. Ali loves getting to know her friend for the day and watching them have the best time there.
In 2019, the Voorhees, New Jersey, native helped push RU to its eighth straight NCAA Tournament, 10th in the last 12 seasons, and 14th time overall. On the conference side, Ali guided the Scarlet Knights to their sixth straight Big Ten Tournament since joining the league in 2014, advancing to their third Big Ten semifinal.
The 2017 Big Ten Freshman of the Year has started all 73 games since her arrival "On the Banks" in 2017, tallying a total of 72 career points (30 g, 12a). Her name is etched across the Rutgers career and single-season charts. She ranks fifth in career points (72), fifth in career goals (30), fourth in career game winning goals (12), and first in single season overtime goals (4).
The senior forward was recently drafted into the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) by Portland Thorns FC and will finish her final collegiate seasons this spring and fall before heading West.
ABOUT THE SENIOR CLASS AWARD
Sixty NCAA® men's and women's soccer student-athletes who excel both on and off the field were selected as candidates today for the 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award®. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.The men's and women's Senior CLASS Award candidate classes, was narrowed to 10 finalists with those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots are now distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character, and competition. Fans can vote by clicking here.
The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2021 NCAA Men's and Women's College Cup® championships in May.
Follow Rutgers women's soccer on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Download the Scarlet Knights App for Apple or Android today.
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