Teresa Noyola Receives Honda Sports Award for Soccer
Stanford University’s Teresa Noyola, whose playmaking prowess and ball-handling excellence helped lead her team to the 2011 national championship, has won the Honda Sports Award for soccer. Her selection by the Collegiate Women Sports Award Program recognizes Noyola as the country’s top female player in her sport.
The senior midfielder scored the game-winning goal — a powerful header on a pass from teammate Cami Levin — in Stanford’s 1-0 victory over Duke University at the College Cup. Noyola earned first-team All-American honors by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, becoming only the second Stanford player to receive three consecutive first-team honors. Stanford finished the season undefeated, and Noyola’s squad amassed a four-year record of 95-4-4. Noyola had 15 assists for the year and 60 in her college career, the second highest in Stanford history behind Christen Press.
“This is a very prestigious award,” said Noyola. “I’m surprised but excited to be able to represent Stanford. We play a ball possession game that ultimately wears down teams. In previous final fours we weren’t able to show what we do all season. This time we were able to keep playing our game. We knew we were a good team and it’s great to be recognized for our hard work.”
A math and computational science major, Noyola was honored as the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. “My parents both attended graduate school at Stanford and they taught me what it takes in terms of time management,” said Noyola, whose father’s consulting company is based in Mexico. She attended Palo Alto High School and played for the Mountain View-Los Altos Mercury youth team. She was the Gatorade National Player of the Year and California Player of the Year in 2008 and two-time Parade National Player of the Year. She competes for the Mexican national team on the squad attempting to qualify for the London Olympic Games.
The Honda Sports Award is presented annually to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. As a Honda prize recipient, Noyola becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious Honda Cup. Noyola was chosen by a vote of coaches from 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Lindsay Taylor (Stanford), and Maya Hayes (Penn State).
Best Golf App of 2011 – Tiger Woods: My Swing
Tiger Woods: My Swing debuted in 2011 to much fanfare, and is now ending the year on an equally high note, receiving rave reviews from some of the most prestigious mobile application critics including Apple, The New York Times, TechCrunch and Apps Magazine. Available for iPhone, iPod and most recently in HD for the iPad2, Tiger Woods: My Swing, created by the Tiger Woods Foundation and Shotzoom, helps golfers of all skill levels improve their swing through video analysis and instruction from Tiger Woods.
“It’s awesome that Tiger Woods: My Swing has been selected as one of the best iPhone apps for 2011,” Woods said. “Proceeds go to the college-access programs of my Foundation and I’m very grateful for the support.”
Tiger Woods: My Swing’s list of accolades continues to grow with numerous “Best of 2011″ mentions including: The New York Times Top 10 iPhone apps for 2011; TechCrunch’s 20 Best iOS Apps of 2011 and Apps Magazine’s “Best Apps in Real life.” The app is also featured as number two in the Sports Category on Apple’s own Best of 2011, The App Store Rewind. Read more
NASCAR Gets Greener: G-Oil Joins With Tayler Malsam, TriStar for 2012 Nationwide Series
The NASCAR world got a bit greener today. G-Oil, America’s first and only API and USDA certified bio-based full synthetic motor oil, announced that it will sponsor driver Tayler Malsam and the TriStar Motorsports Toyota Camry team for the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series.
“G-Oil wants to demonstrate to consumers that our American-made green racing oil can stand up to the rigors of NASCAR competition,” said Jeffrey Loch, President and CMO of Green Earth Technologies, Inc. “Remember, ‘G-Oil’ is not just on the car– it is IN the car,” said Loch.
Seattle area native Tayler Malsam, 22, got his first laps aboard the #19 G-Oil Toyota during a day-long recent test at the Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando. “There is already an energy and excitement building around the G-Oil TriStar Toyota team,” said Malsam.
“We want to prove that G-Oil works on the track and help tell the story to race fans and non-race fans alike,” said Malsam. Read more
Tom Lehman Named Champions Tour Player of the Year
Tommy Bahama, the popular lifestyle brand, salutes Tom Lehman on being named Player of the Year for the PGA’s Champions Tour. This latest achievement in his long and successful career means that Lehman is the only player ever to win the prestigious Player of the Year title on all three tours; the Nationwide Tour (1991), the PGA TOUR (1996) and now Champions Tour (2011).
Since his debut as a professional golfer in 1983, Lehman has established himself as one of the premier players in golf, continuing this through his three seasons on the Champions Tour, with five wins and 25 top ten finishes in just 43 events, including two Champions Tour Majors titles.
Tommy Bahama, whose spirited mantra is make life one long weekend, has become a staple for the discerning golfer’s wardrobe and for Lehman, who has worn the brand since 2002. “We are proud of our association with Tom,” says Terry Pillow, CEO of Tommy Bahama. “He approaches not just golf but life with zeal, enthusiasm and a high standard for excellence. Those are the qualities of a true Champion and we are honored to have him as an ambassador for our brand.” Read more
Atletico de Madrid vs. Rennes UEFA Europa League preview
Atletico de Madrid will look to secure first place in UEFA Europa League Group I against a Stade Rennais side already resigned to elimination.
Second-placed Udinese Calcio are two points behind Atlético, but can only overtake the Liga side if they win at home against Celtic FC and Rennes secure an unlikely victory in the Spanish capital.
Rennes were held to a 1-1 home draw when the sides met on matchday two, with Victor Montano’s deflected 56th-minute effort cancelled out late on by a strike from Atletico substitute Juanfran (86).
Atletico‘s record in 11 games against French sides is W5 D5 L1 (W4 D1 L0 in Madrid). That sole defeat was a 4-2 loss at RC Lens in the UEFA Cup fourth round second leg on 9 March 2000 after a 2-2 draw in Spain. Read more