8-02-2024 4:18am

NCAA FINALIST

Jeff Barto Editor

Goucher’s Belle St. Jean named NCAA Woman of the Year finalist

TOWSON, MD—The NCAA has selected Belle St. Jean from Goucher College as one of two finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year award for the 2025-26 season.

St. Jean, a four-year member of the women’s soccer program, was nominated by her school and was one of 10 finalists selected by a conference office across the NCAA. Those finalists were then selected by a committee on women’s athletics and the winner was announced at the 2025 NCAA Convention in January.

“Playing soccer at Goucher was an incredible experience and has helped prepare me for life after graduation,” said St. Jean. “Being nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year is an immense honor and I am grateful to all of the people (especially my family and team) who have helped me reach this point.”

St. Jean started all 50 games for the Gophers in the 2021-23 season, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was named the Landmark Senior Scholar-Athlete for women’s soccer by the conference and was a finalist for the conference’s overall Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She was also a two-time College Sports Communicators All-District selection and a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region selection as a junior and senior.

“Belle is the epitome of a student-athlete. Belle sets high goals and puts in the work to reach those goals whether in the classroom or on the field,” said former Goucher women’s soccer coach Stephanie Ricketts-Preston ’07. “Most important however is how amazing Belle is as a person and a teammate. Belle cares deeply, is always willing to listen, and helps people realize how great they are too. It was a pleasure coaching Belle and I’m excited to see what the future holds!”