Senior midfielder Taylor Thornton is one of five females nominated for Sports Illustrated’s inaugural College Athlete of the Year award, the publication announced Wednesday.

Sports Illustrated will select one male and one female athlete from a pool of 10 college students who excel athletically and have made an impact in classrooms and the community. The magazine will reveal the award’s winners May 22.

The honor is one of Thornton’s many post-season accolades.

Thornton was named one of 25 finalists for this year’s Tewaaraton Trophy, making 2012-13 her third consecutive season as a finalist for college lacrosse’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. She was also named first-team All-Region for the All-West/Midwest region by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association and first-team All-ALC.

For the fan-decided Sports Illustrated award, Thornton faces Baylor basketball player Brittany Griner, Oregon volleyball and basketball player Liz Brenner, North Carolina field hockey player Loren Shealy and Louisiana State track and field runner Kimberlyn Duncan.

— Ava Wallace

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