NEWPORT NEWS, Va.—  Former University of Dayton women's soccer standout Ashley Campbell was one of two student-athletes selected as the Atlantic 10 Conference's nominees for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Campbell and Melissa Ross, a swimmer at Richmond, were announced Wednesday as the league's two candidates for one of the NCAA's most prestigious honors.

Both student-athletes completed their eligibility this past year and graduated from their respective universities in May. Campbell and Ross were chosen as the league's nominees by the Atlantic 10's 14 Senior Woman Administrators (SWAs) based on their athletic achievements, academic prowess, community involvement and leadership abilities. Both A-10 candidates have exceptional resumes in all four areas.

"Ashley and Melissa have had amazing careers, as both students and athletes, while enhancing their service and leadership skills on their teams and in the classrooms. We are very proud to nominate them both as the A-10's Woman of the Year candidates," stated Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. "They continue the Atlantic 10 tradition of remarkable nominees for an award that showcases the best in college athletics."

The NCAA will select the top 30 (10 per division) in early September, and then will narrow the list to the top nine (three per division) in late September. The 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year will be chosen from those nine candidates and will be announced Sunday, Oct. 16, at the awards dinner in Indianapolis. 
 
Dayton's all-time leading goal scorer, Campbell amassed several awards during her four years with the Flyers. She led the Flyers to a 2013 A-10 regular season title, and the 2014 A-10 Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. A two-time Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year and four-time All-Conference selection, she broke UD's women's soccer record for career goals with 63. She also was a two-time NSCAA Division I Women's All-Mid-Atlantic Region selection. Named one of the top 30 players for the 2015 Senior CLASS Award, she earned Academic All-Ohio for three consecutive seasons and was a three-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award winner. Campbell was a member of the U-20 Canadian Women's National Team that was a 2014 FIFA World Cup quarterfinalist, playing in all four matches with a start versus Finland.
 
Since 2012 she has participated in Christmas on Campus, and for two years she volunteered with Top Soccer and the annual "Kicks for Kids" event, teaching and playing soccer with special needs children. Her community service endeavors also include sponsoring, along with her teammates, a "Green Dot" match to provide awareness and prevention of sexual assault. Campbell and the Flyers walked in many Breast Cancer awareness events and participated in the Anti-Bullying Rally in Dayton, Ohio. She also helped out on campus, volunteering at the Flyer 5K fundraising race.