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 Natalie Kulla has finished her soccer career and moved on to the next step in her life, but she keeps winning awards.
The former Marquette goalkeeper, who finished her career last fall ranked second in NCAA Division I history with 43 shutouts, was named the 2011-12 Big East Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Kulla graduated in December and is working at Boeing as a facilities plant engineer in the company's defense, space and security division. Next summer she will begin studying for a graduate degree in sustainability at Saint Louis University.
The Scholar-Athlete Award, which was determined by the Big East Academic Affairs Committee, includes a $4,000 scholarship graduate or professional studies.
"Accepting this award and scholarship from the Big East is a true honor," said Kulla, the first Marquette athlete to claim the honor. "There are a countless number of devoted, hard-working and remarkable female student-athletes in the Big East."
Kulla was the Big East Goalkeeper of the Year each of the past two seasons and holds program records for career goals-against average (0.74) and shutouts in a season (16) and ranks second in career wins (58). She helped lead the Golden Eagles to three straight Big East American Division championships and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.
"This is a tremendous honor for Natalie and is well deserved," Marquette coach Markus Roeders said in a news release. "Natalie is an exceptional young lady and we couldn't be more proud of her being recognized with this prestigious award.
"Throughout her career at Marquette, Natalie raised the bar as a student-athlete in our program. She excelled in all areas and remained very humble by her individual accomplishments along the way. Natalie strived to be the best she could be, but was always focused on the program's success. She was an incredible leader, an outstanding student, a big-time athlete and somebody who always showed great care for those around her."
- Midfielder Julia Roddar, a Swedish youth international who played in all 20 games for the University of Wisconsin as a freshman last fall, transferred to Florida Gulf Coast. Roddar started 15 matches and had one goal and two assists for the Badgers.
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