Courtesy of CNU Athletic Communications

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Christopher Newport University junior Carson Pokorny added another prestigious individual accolade to her mantel on Thursday night as the NCAA announced the Captains' starting midfielder as the 2018 recipient of the Elite 90 award. Pokorny is the first CNU athlete in any sport to earn the honor, recognizing the CNU third-year at the NCAA Division III Soccer National Championship Banquet in Greensboro, N.C.

The Elite 90 award, founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships. 

Pokorny, a Williamsburg, Va. native, currently boasts a perfect 4.0 grade-point average while majoring in Biochemistry at Christopher Newport University. The Honors student is also double minoring in Spanish and Biology and is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection. She was also named a CoSIDA Academic All-American as a sophomore and is a two-time Capital Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference pick. 

Her success in the classroom has come while she has also excelled as one of the Captains top options in the midfield throughout her career. She has played in 60 games in her first three seasons, piling up 62 points on 18 goals and 26 assists. She has eight game-winning goals while putting 72 of her 133 career shots on-frame for a SOG% of .541. Pokorny ranks second all-time in career assists and is in the top-ten all-time in career gamewinners. 

This season, Pokorny has started 21 games and ranks fourth on the team in scoring with 19 points. She has notched a career-best seven goals while chipping in five helpers for 19 total points. 

Christopher Newport teams have reached the finals site of NCAA competition 20 times since 2009-10, the first year of the Elite 90 award's existence, and Pokorny is the first Captain to achieve the esteemed recognition. 

Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling, and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credit hours completed. 

For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite-90.