Dec. 20, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF women's soccer standout Nicolette Radovcic (Rockaway, N.J.) was one of 12 league student-athletes to receive the Conference USA Fall Spirit of Service award, commissioner Britton Banowsky announced Tuesday. The award is designed to recognize the community service efforts of the league's student-athletes, based upon significant community service, good academic standing and participation in their elected sport.
Radovcic started in 23 of UCF's 24 games this past season and helped lead the Knights to their first NCAA Championship Elite Eight appearance since 1987. The junior paced UCF in goals with eight, and had three game-winning scores, including the goal to defeat Florida in Gainesville to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16.
Radovcic also started and played 86 minutes in UCF's upset of third-seeded North Carolina in the Sweet 16 game. Following the season, Radovcic was selected to the NSCAA All-Central Region Second Team.
In addition to her leadership role on the soccer team, she serves as a member of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Athletic Director's Captains Council. As a member of SAAC, she has reached out to the community through volunteer work, athletics awareness events and has spent time assisting the Central Florida Children's Home.
She was appointed to the Captains Council by UCF women's soccer head coach Amanda Cromwell and is one of a select group of student-athletes who attended monthly meetings to foster their leadership skills. Radovcic has also volunteered her time with several organizations in the Central Florida region. She participated in the National Girls and Women in Sports Day held at UCF and volunteered at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. She also worked with the Central Florida Miracle League, which pairs volunteers with children ages 6-16 with disabilities for a day of baseball to help them build self-worth and overcome boundaries.
The Spirit of Service awards are presented three times throughout the season, with today's honorees representing Conference USA's fall sports: football, soccer, volleyball and cross country.