FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton senior midfielder Chelsey Patterson has been selected as one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award, it was announced today.
The candidate class will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one female candidate who best exemplify excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Men's and Women's College Cup® championships in December.
A native of Anaheim, Calif., Patterson has played in each of Fullerton's four matches this season, not missing a single minute on the pitch playing in both the defensive midfield and defensive backline.
Patterson has been an integral part of rebuilding the Titan program, winning a regular season conference championship in 2012 and the Big West Tournament championship as well as making a first round NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013.
The two-time Big West Conference honoree is a key cog in Fullerton's successful defensive scheme, as the Titans led the Big West in fewest goals allowed and goals against average, en route to their postseason appearance last year – the first for the program since 2007.
From 2011-13, the Titans posted three-straight winning seasons with Patterson playing in 59 of Fullerton's 62 games, adding three goals to her work in the defensive midfield.
Patterson has served as a role model to her teammates for her efforts on and off the field since her first year with the Titans. As a freshman, Patterson established herself as an intricate member of the program. Through her tireless work ethic and devotion to her improvement, she earned the role of captain in her sophomore year and has maintained that leadership role now into her senior year. She has also proven to be a aspiring coach and mentor, serving as a high school and youth soccer coach in he Fullerton community, she has provided a model of excellence for future student-athletes.
Patterson is on pace to graduate with a degree in kinesiology in May 2015 and enters her senior year with a 3.14 GPA. She was a 2013 Big West Fall All-Academic selection and has been named to the Dean's List once while at Fullerton.
While at Cal State Fullerton, Patterson has participated in several community service projects with her teammates. For three years, the Titans have participated in the Soccer For Hope camp, teaching new drills and interacting with over 100 young, aspiring soccer stars in an effort to raise money and awareness for children with life threatening diseases.