OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Following the conclusion of the 2019 regular season last week, the list of the 10 finalists for the 2019 Women's Soccer Senior CLASS Award was announced and Navy goalkeeper Sydney Fortson (Claremont, Calif.) was amongst the elite candidates that were selected for this nation-wide award. The Mids' team captain for their 2019 season, one of the most successful in the history of the Navy women's soccer program, Fortson was selected for consideration for this award for her well-rounded efforts both on and off the field.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in the 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.

A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, Fortson thrives in the classroom as an aerospace engineering major. Through six semesters at the U.S. Naval Academy, Fortson has posted a 3.91 cumulative GPA and been named to the Supt's List six times. That list recognizes the top USNA students in the areas of academics, military and physical readiness. She currently ranks top-20 in both the Naval Academy's Military Order of Merit and Overall Order of Merit for the Class of 2020. Fortson was selected as a Second Team Academic All-American in 2017 before reaching First Team Academic All-American status as a junior in 2018. Additionally, she has been named the Patriot League Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year in both 2018 and 2019.
 
Described by her coaches and fellow teammates as a loyal, driven and selfless teammate, Fortson was elected as the captain for the Navy women's soccer team. Fortson cares deeply about her teammates, the program and the team's success and does an excellent job of balancing her academics, athletics and military commitments as illustrated by her respected status within Bancroft Hall. In her position as a senior captain, Fortson leads the team through a compassionate, trustworthy and loyal style, while displaying a top-notch work ethic and discipline. This outstanding leadership helped cultivate a team atmosphere that resulted in 16 wins, both the Patriot League Regular Season and Postseason Championships and Navy's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2007. 
 
Another responsibility as team captain for the Mids sees Fortson playing a vital role in the program's community service efforts. Fortson and her teammates are ardent supporters of GiGi's Playhouse, a Down Syndrome Achievement Center in Annapolis. Additionally, Navy has had the privilege of volunteering with the Honor Flight program twice so far during the 2019 calendar year. As part of the Honor Flight program, the Midshipmen traveled to Reagan National Airport to welcome military veterans as they arrived into Washington, D.C. The Mids are also regular participants in Special Olympic events that are hosted annually at the Naval Academy.
 
2019 marks the third straight season that Fortson was the Mids' starting goalkeeper. After seeing five games of action as a freshman in 2016, Fortson took over the starting role in 2017 and made an immediate impact. Playing and starting all 21 games in 2017, Fortson posted a 0.90 goals against average (GAA) and .804 save percentage, with a 16-4-1 record. She was recognized as the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year, in addition to a spot on the All-East Regional Second Team. As a junior in 2018, she dropped her GAA to 0.85 and went 11-6-3 on her way to an All-Patriot League Third Team nod. Fortson returned to the upper echelon of the Patriot League's goalkeepers as she was selected to the All-Patriot League First Team. In 19 games, she posted a 13-3-3 record, 0.60 GAA and 76.9 save percentage with 10 shutouts. 

Over her 65-game career, Fortson went 41-14-7 with a 0.82 GAA, 78.4 save percentage and 27 shutouts. In Navy's program record book, her 0.60 GAA and 10 shutout totals from 2019 rank fourth all-time in both single-season categories. In the career categories, he 0.82 GAA is fourth all-time, while her 27 shutouts are the second-most in program history, two shy of Lizzie Barnes' program-best 29 clean sheets from 2005 through 2008.

In 2013, goalkeeper Elizabeth Hoerner earned a spot on the Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American team. She is the last Navy women's soccer player to earn recognition as part of the Senior CLASS program.

The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2019 Women's College Cup in December.

On the list of finalists, Fortson is the only goalkeeper, as well as the only candidate from the Patriot League.

The Senior CLASS Award 2019 Women's Soccer Candidates
Kaylee Dao, F, Oklahoma
Kate Del Fava, M, Illinois State
Samantha Dewey, M, Xavier
Jessie Fleming, M, UCLA
Sydney Fortson, GK, Navy
Maureen Kennedy, D, Bowling Green
Alli Klug, D, Saint Louis
Meaghan Nally, D, Georgetown
Evelyne Viens, F, South Florida
Ally Watt, F, Texas A&M