Florida State’s Nighswonger Named Women’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Florida State senior defender Jenna Nighswonger has been named the 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year and headlines the All-ACC Academic Team, the league office announced on Wednesday.
 
Nighswonger, who was recently drafted fourth overall to NJ/NY Gotham FC in the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League Draft last month, led Florida State to its third consecutive ACC title and its 13th appearance in the NCAA Women’s College Cup. In December, the Huntington Beach, California, native was also named the United Soccer Coaches Scholar Player of the Year and landed on the second team of the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America list.
 
Nighswonger had a career year in her senior season, leading to her being a Honda Sport Award and MAC Hermann Trophy finalist. She had a career-high in points (28), assists (16) and goals (six) and was named a United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American. Her 16 assists led the ACC and ranked second nationally, as she posted a pair of three-assist matches against Louisville and Duke. Nighswonger finished her career with 19 goals and 34 assists for 72 points. Her 34 assists rank as the second most in a career at FSU, and her 72 points ranks ninth all-time at Florida State.
 
The senior’s season was highlighted by a goal and an assist in the ACC title match, as the led the Seminoles to a 2-1 victory over North Carolina. She was named Tournament MVP.
 
Duke’s Delaney Graham and Virginia’s Alexa Spaanstra were both named to the All-ACC Academic Team for the fifth time in their collegiate careers, while the Blue Devil tandem of Sophie Jones and Mackenzie Pluck were honored for the fourth time.
 
A total of 28 student-athletes who earned All-ACC honors this past season also secured spots on the academic team, highlighted by two season award winners: Duke’s tandem of Michelle Cooper (Offensive Player of the Year) and Kat Rader (Freshman of the Year), Notre Dame’s duo of Eva Gaetino (Defensive Player of the Year) and Korbin Albert (Midfielder of the Year) and Florida State’s Cristina Roque (Florida State).
 
Additionally, eight student-athletes on the All-ACC Freshman Team earned All-ACC Academic Team honors.
 
All 14 ACC women’s soccer programs are represented on the All-ACC Academic Team. Virginia and…