June 17, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB women's soccer player Jill Porto has been selected as a recipient of the Conference USA Post-Graduate Scholarship, announced the league office. Porto was one of 11 student-athletes from around C-USA to receive the honor.

The conference annually presents the $4,000 Post-Graduate Scholarship awards to graduates as selected by the school's Faculty Athletics Representatives and approved by the Board of Directors.

This is an amazing and wonderful honor for Jill and our program," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "I am incredibly proud of Jill. She joins a very elite group of players in the history of our program that have also earned this honor."

Porto was a four-year starter for the Blazers, racking up four goals, two assists and 10 points, while leading C-USA in shots per game with 3.68 as a senior in 2007. All four of her goals, and nine of her 10 points, came against league opponents this past year.

Porto etched her name in the Blazer record books by setting a new school record for shots with 260 career shots taken. She also tied for fourth in both goals (25) and game-winning goals (7) and ranks ninth in points (60).

The Woodbridge, Va. native has received numerous honors throughout her career, including being named a second-team Scholar All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). A first-team All-Conference USA selection and team MVP as a senior, she has been named to four all-region teams, three all-conference teams and one SoccerAmerica National Team of the Week during her career.

Porto is expected to receive her bachelor's degree in business marketing in December and is planning continue her education in the MBA program at UAB.

Porto is the fourth UAB women's soccer player to receive the league's annual Post-Graduate Scholarship. Previous recipients include Katja Lerew (2001), Lisa Nowoslawski (2003) and Briana McCarty (2005).