Freehold Twp. Alum Whitley Named Big 10 Women's Soccer Freshman of the Year

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Freehold Township High School alumnus Nicole Whitley, who plays midfield for the Rutgers women's soccer team, has been named Big 10 Freshman of the Year, the conference announced.

Whitley, who led Freehold Township to its first NJSIAA Group championship last year, set a school record for the Scarlet Knights this year, notching a Big 10-leading 9 assists.

The freshman, who spent part of last summer with the U.S. Women's U-18 national team, also earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors and placed on the Big Ten All Freshman Team, the conference said.

She started the first 19 matches of her Rutgers career, posting four points with a goal and two assists at Michigan State, her highest scoring game of the season. Whitley aalso was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week in September, and had three assists against Drexel.

She is one of six Rutgers women’s soccer players who received postseason honors. Senior defender Erin Smith was named to the All Big 10 First Team, senior forward Madison Tiernan received second-team honors and fellow freshmen Taylor Aylmer and Amanda Visco earned spots on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.

Senior midfielder Tori Prager was named the program's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient.

“A special congratulations to all of our players,” head coach Mike O’Neill said. “Individual accomplishments represent team success. The culture of the Rutgers women’s soccer program is as one achieves, we all achieve. We are very proud to have these ladies honored.”

Photo by Rich Schultz/Rutgers Athletic Communications