Stauffer Bags NCAA Top Eight

Just when it seemed that Emily Stauffer had finally ended her assault on national honors, she has added another notch to her seemingly end less belt of awards.

Stauffer, co-captain of the 1998 Harvard women's soccer team, has been named a recipient of the NCAA Top Eight award, the most prestigious individual honor bestowed by the NCAA short of Player of the Year in one's sport.

According to the NCAA, the Top Eight "honors eight distinguished student-athletes from the preceding calendar year for achievement in athletics, academics and leadership." It is given to only eight student athletes, male or female, from among all sports and all divisions--Div. I, II, III and junior colleges--in collegiate athletics.

"I'm honored to receive an award that recognizes student athletes," Staufer said. "I want to thank my teammates, coaches and family because they play the biggest role in making something like this happen for me."

A two-time Ivy League Player of the Year and four-time NSCAA All American, Stauffer is only the second Harvard student ever to win the award. The other recipient was two time Olympian Meredith Rainey '90.

Stauffer and the other seven recipients of the Top Eight will be recognized at a banquet in San Antonio, Texas on Jan. 10 where one of the eight winners will be chosen to speak on behalf of the group. Last year's speaker was 1997 Heisman Trophy winner Peyton Manning, whose speech is currently being featured on a national commercial for the NCAA.

The award will take on added significance for Stauffer since Jan. 10 will mark the one-year anniversary of the death of her brother Matt from leukemia. Stauffer twice donated bone marrow to Matt and took the 1997 fall semester off to spend time with him.

"I don't know who it's going to be, but I would love to speak," Stauffer said. "It is also the day my brother died, and I would love to be able to talk about him on that day."

The announcement of Stauffer's incredible achievement comes on the heels of her being named one of five finalists for the Hermann Trophy, soccer's equivalent of the Heisman, and one of four finalists for the Missouri Athletic Club's Player of the year award.

Stauffer finished a brilliant collegiate career this year as Harvard's all time leader in assists (36), and she guided the Crimson to its third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four years. She was once again named a member of the Northeast All-Region First Team, an Academic All-Ivy selection, and she became the 12th player in Ivy League history to be voted to the All-Ivy First Team in each of her four years. --EDUARDO PEREZ-GIZ