Bria VarnBuhler, a senior midfielder from Pomona-Pitzer College, was named the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Soccer as announced today by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

VarnBuhler is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DIII Honda Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 44th year.

VarnBuhler was most recently named the DIII United Soccer Coaches Player of the Year becoming the first-ever Pomona-Pitzer soccer athlete to earn Player of the Year and the first player from the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) to earn the award as well. 

She is now just the second first-team All-American in program history and set the single-season records for goals and points for Pomona-Pitzer this year with 21 goals and 45 points.  A scoring threat for the Sagehens all year long, she tallied nine game-winning goals en route to the team’s first 20-win season in program history.

VarnBuhler ends her career at the top of the single-season record boards for points (45) and goals (21) and third in both career goals (41) and points (91). 

“This is a terrific honor for Bria and our soccer program,” stated head coach Jennifer Scanlon. “It’s been a historic season for Pomona-Pitzer Soccer and Bria made an impact out there every game, even though every team we played knew she was someone they had to try and stop.  She showed throughout the year that she is one of the best in the country. It’s been terrific to see Bria and our program make a mark on the national soccer scene with everything we accomplished this season”

All Honda Sports nominees from DIII and DII become a finalist for the prestigious 2020 Honda Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports on June 22, 2020, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Sports nominees are recognized in 11 DIII and DII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.

THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 44 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.   Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility

Honda also is committed to making positive contributions to the communities where it does business, conducting socially responsible business practices and promoting diversity in its workforce. From Honda's involvement in STEM education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to its support of pediatric brain tumor research and volunteer efforts by Honda associates, including environmental clean-up activities, Honda believes in giving back to the communities where its associates live and work. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.