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July 14, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The University of Louisville had a league-high four student athletes honored by the BIG EAST Conference among the 21 winners of the 2007-08 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards, which recognize academic and athletic achievement as well as community service. One athlete from each sport league-wide is selected, and the Cardinals were represented by Kristi Cunningham (softball), Joanna Haig (women's soccer), Steven Hnat (men's track and field) and Tarah McKay (women's track and field).

The Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards are given to one student-athlete in each BIG EAST sport based on academic credentials, athletic accolades or performances and volunteer service to the community. Student-athletes who attained junior academic standing and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 are eligible. The winners are chosen by the BIG EAST faculty athletic representatives.

A Third-Team All-American by Soccer Buzz, Haig established school records for single season minutes (2,110), goals against average (0.47) and shutouts (12), as well as career GAA (0.48) and shutouts (20) in 2007. She finished the season third in the nation in save% (0.893) and fifth in GAA.

Haig, from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, did not leave the field during her senior season, posting a 13-6-2 record in net, as the Cardinals tied a school record for wins and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season. She was selected to the NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I All-Great Lakes Region Second Team, Soccer Buzz First Team All-Region, All-BIG EAST second team and was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® women's soccer First Team member.

She was also one of 10 finalists for the Inaugural Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in the Women's Soccer division. The award is presented in eight NCAA Division I sports to a senior student-athlete who has outstanding attributes in four areas: the classroom, community, character and competition.

Cunningham, an Exercise Science/Pre-Nursing major from Gallatin, Tenn. carries a 3.806 cumulative GPA. The three-year starter and 2008 team co-captain led the Cards with six home runs and was second on the team with 32 runs scored. She was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV second team selection and earned the University of Louisville Women4Women/Anthem Leadership Award 2008. Cunningham was also named U of L's Female Freshman and Sophomore of the Year in 2006 and 2007.

Hnat, a Health and Human Performance - Exercise Science/Sport Medicine major from Floyds Knobs, Ind., has a 3.564 cumulative GPA through his first three seasons at UofL. He won the 2007 BIG EAST indoor shot put title, is a two-time BIG EAST shot put runner-up and a five-time BIG EAST medalist in the shot put. Hnat is also the school record holder in both the indoor and outdoor shot put.

McKay, Health and Human Performance - Exercise Science/Sport Medicine major from St. Clements, Ont., carries a 4.000 cumulative GPA after two seasons at UofL. She advanced to the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 1,500m run for her first ever appearance at the outdoor national championships and she finished eighth at the Canadian Olympic Team Trials in the 1,500m earlier this month. McKay is the school record holder in the 1,500m and as a freshman, she became the first U of L woman ever to advance and compete at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. She is also a two-time All-BIG EAST and All-Region performer in cross country.