Crystal Dunn is enjoying a meteoric rise to soccer stardom, garnering numerous accolades in her high school and college career.
But now the New Hyde Park native is going for crossover success, nominated for an ESPY Award in the “Best Female College Athlete” category.
Dunn, a rising senior at the University of North Carolina who turned 21 on July 2, is competing against fellow Tar Heel Kara Cannizzaro, a rising senior midfielder on the UNC lacrosse team, Oklahoma softball pitcher Keilani Ricketts and Baylor basketball star Brittney Griner.
Fan voting determines the winner for the award, which will be announced at the ceremonies on ESPN July 17.
“I’m honored to be nominated for such a prestigious award,” Dunn said. “It was been such an amazing year and I am honored to represent the University of North Carolina.”
Dunn helped lead North Carolina to its 22nd NCAA national title in December, coming up especially huge in the quarterfinals when midfielder scored both goals in a 2-1 overtime win over top-seeded BYU and headed a ball off her own goal-line in the first overtime.
A month later, Dunn was named Hermann Trophy winner, awarded annually to the best college soccer player in the country.
Dunn started her career as a standout at South Side High School in Rockville Centre where she was a three-year starter, leading the squad to state championships in 2006, 2007 and 2009. The 2007 and 2009 teams also went undefeated and were ranked No. 1 in the country by the NSCAA.
In three years at South Shore – she missed her junior year because of national team commitments, guiding the U.S. U-17 to its first-ever silver medal at the U-17 World Cup – Dunn scored 46 goals and had 35 assists. In the 2009 state final, she scored four goals, including a hat trick in the opening 20 minutes.
Dunn, who also played club soccer for the Albertson Fury, the RVC Tornadoes and the RVC Power, started immediately at North Carolina, scoring nine goals and setting up eight others to lead the Tar Heels in scoring. She was named Soccer America Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-American by the NSCAA.
As a sophomore, Dunn started 19 games, missing just one game because she was training with the U-20 national team. She was named a third-team All-American by the NSCSAA.
Dunn has also steadily risen up the ranks for the United States national team, as well. She competed in two U-20 World Cups, setting up the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Germany in the U-20 World Cup final last September in Tokyo.
Dunn received her first call-up to the senior national team in January and made her debut a month later in a friendly against Scotland. In March, she helped the United States capture the 2013 Algarve Cup, starting as a left back and playing the full 90 minutes against Iceland in the opening game of the tournament.
To vote for Dunn, go to: http://espn.go.com/espys/2013/vote/index?lang=null and click on the “Best Female College Athlete” category.
