Belmont Abbey's Spurgeon Selected as Finalist for Unsung Hero Award
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Belmont Abbey women's lacrosse player Rebecca Spurgeon has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2022 Yeardley Reynolds Love (YRL) Unsung Hero Award, the One Love Foundation announced this week. Spurgeon is one of three finalists among NCAA Division II players, joining Marissa Long of American International and Walsh's Grace Heighway.
A midfielder from Bowie, Md., Spurgeon played in 17 of the Crusaders' 19 games, starting nine times. She took one shot on goal in 2022, while securing eight ground balls and causing five turnovers. She also gained one draw control.
Off the field, she started a team bible study this year, recruiting 11 students who attend regularly. She is a work-study student for the program, lining the field and doing daily laundry tasks and volunteers with Ryz Above Fitness for inclusive fitness for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. In 2021, she received the team's Spirit of the Abbey Award for exemplifying the Body, Mind and Spirit principle of Belmont Abbey.
In her recommendation letter, head coach Molly Lehman-Lewis called Becca "the heart and soul of our team. She is selflessness personified. She is our Northstar. She accepted her role, redefining success as being the most positive and supportive teammate, while working her tail off. She knows that what we are doing in college sports is bigger than wins and losses. It's about growth and character. At our school we define that as excellence and virtue. Her faith calls her to be her absolute best without losing our standards and humility."
The Yeardley Reynolds Love ("YRL") Unsung Hero Award recognizes the accomplishments of six student-athletes (a male and female from each NCAA division) who help their teams achieve success in ways that may not be measured in goals, saves or ground balls. This honor places value on kindness and generosity, characteristics that are often undervalued in the competitively charged environment of college lacrosse.
The award recognizes the athlete who makes a significant contribution to the team while also bringing joy to teammates. The award recipients exhibit leadership as a positive role model and are involved in community service. The recipients are awarded a sum of money from the One Love Foundation to be given to their favorite charity.
For more information about the One Love Foundation, visit
joinonelove.org and for more information about the Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award go to
joinonelove.org/unsung-hero-awards/.
**Story courtesty of Belmont Abbey Athletic Communications**