August 23, 2021
University of North Georgia (UNG) women's soccer player Taylor Malasek is the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) nominee for the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year award, the national office announced Aug. 16.
Malasek is one of 153 college athletes representing 18 different sports across the NCAA's three divisions to advance from the initial list of 535 nominees. She is one of 36 Division II nominees still in the running.
"We're proud of Taylor and her accomplishments in the classroom, in our community and on the soccer field. She is an ideal role model and leader of her peers," UNG Athletics Director Mary Rob Plunkett said. "Being the PBC nominee for this prestigious award is no easy feat. It's exciting that the members of the conference saw the same qualities and characteristics that we get to experience in Taylor on a daily basis."
Malasek joins former UNG nominees and women's soccer players Renee VanHorn in 2019 and Shannon Coulombe in 2016 as nominees put forth by the PBC for consideration to be included in the national top 30 in their respective years.
"It's a huge honor to earn this nomination," Malasek said. "I've been shaped into who I am today because of the people at UNG, and I couldn't be prouder to represent them and the school with this nomination."
Malasek is pursuing a degree in biology and earned the PBC Elite 15 award for women's soccer in 2019. The award is given to the student-athlete competing in each conference championship who has the highest cumulative GPA.
"She is a true leader and a superb team captain," Kayley Ralton, women's soccer head coach, said. "She sets a great example through her consistent work ethic in everything she does."
Malasek, a senior from Peachtree City, Georgia, was a 2019 third-team United Soccer Coaches All-American, a first-team All-PBC selection twice and second-team All-PBC recipient once. Additionally, she is a three-time PBC Team of Academic Distinction honoree and has earned multiple academic awards at the regional and national levels.
Malasek will play a fifth season this fall due to the extra season of eligibility granted by the NCAA to all student-athletes who competed during the 2020-21 academic year.
The top 30 honorees — 10 from each division — will be announced in September, and then narrowed to the top three honorees in each division. From those nine finalists, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will choose the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year.