Rachel Marsden (Erie, Pa./McDowell), a member of the Saint Francis softball team, has been selected by the Northeast Conference (NEC) as one of two conference representatives moving on to the next stage of the 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year. Marsden and fellow Red Flash nominee Julia Breneman (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff) become the fourth and fifth Red Flash student-athletes to be an NEC nominee since 2006 and marks the second-straight year Saint Francis has had a student-athlete advance. 
 
"Being the NEC's selection for NCAA Woman of the Year is a tremendous honor and truly humbling," said Marsden. "Being nominated is more than just a recognition of my achievements- it's a celebration of the countless hours of dedication, the pursuit of excellence in every aspect of my life, and the commitment to uplifting and inspiring others along the way. It signifies that hard work, passion, and love for others in every facet of life can truly make a difference. Furthermore, being the NEC's selection for this award inspires me to strive for greatness in everything I do. It's a great honor to be in the same company as all these other hardworking and inspirational female student-athletes in the NCAA. I'll forever be grateful to be considered for this award." 

Marsden moves onto the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee, who will identify the Top 30 – 10 from each division – and from there selects three finalists from each division. Marsden and Breneman look to become the first Saint Francis players to make the Top 30 in program history and second from the NEC after Sierra Clark from Wagner in 2018. From the nine finalists, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then selects the NCAA Woman of the Year, who is named during a luncheon at the NCAA Convention. The Top 30 honorees will be announced in October and the nine finalists will be revealed in November. The 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at the 2025 NCAA Convention in January.

These factors will be taken into consideration for the 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year nomination cycle. Scoring for the academic achievement section is based on the undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of the nominee. NCAA staff will score the athletics excellence section. The selection committee will score the service/leadership section and the personal statement. In the areas of leadership, athletics and personal statements, the selection committee may award five scoring marks up to a maximum score of five at their discretion. The Committee on Women's Athletics understands that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted student-athletes in modifications to academic instruction and cancelation or postponement of athletics seasons and championships, and that not all sports, seasons and schools experienced the same disruptions.

Along with Marsden and Breneman, Ali Williams (women's basketball, 2014), Teresa Narduzzi (women's swimming, 2020) and Elyssa Enrique (women's lacrosse, 2023) were NEC nominees to advance to the next round of the national award.

Beth Krysiak, saint francis softball head coach

"Rachel has a drive and an unmatched competitive spirit. She was an incredible athlete to coach, but more than that, she was a strong leader in the program. Rachel not only led this team to multiple championships but also in the way they practiced, the way they approached the game, and in moments of failure. She grew at Saint Francis to be strong as an individual player and a strong student, a leader on campus, and a good teammate. Rachel made a lasting impact at Saint Francis for the softball program, the school as a whole, and the surrounding community."

james downer, saint francis director of athletics

"As evidenced by her numerous honors and accomplishments throughout her career, Rachel set the standard for true greatness as a scholar-athlete at Saint Francis. Her impact was felt far beyond the softball field and in the classroom; Rachel was a leader on our campus and in the community. During an era where the entire enterprise of intercollegiate athletics has come under increased criticism, Rachel Marsden is a tremendous example of what is right about college athletics."

lisa swope, saint francis senior associate ad/senior woman administrator

"Rachel is an epitome of what a student-athlete represents. I cannot say enough about what a good student, community service worker, athlete, and teammate she is. We are very proud that she wore the Red Flash jersey and so happy that she received the well-earned recognition."

dr. tricia mcfadden, saint francis faculty athletics representative (FAR)

"It's an incredible honor to see Rachel Marsden recognized as an NCAA Woman of the Year nominee. Her dedication, both on and off the field, exemplifies the true spirit of student-athletes. Rachel's commitment to excellence in softball and academics and her contributions to the community make her a deserving candidate for this prestigious award. We are proud to see her achievements celebrated at this level."

grace vesco, saint francis softball teammate (2020-24)

"Rachel is one of the most dedicated and hardworking teammates I have played with. Her passion and competitive attitude for the game is inspiring to all those surrounding her. Her competitive nature drives her to continually strive for excellence in all areas of life. I was blessed to be able to play with such an amazing teammate for 5 years and I can't wait to see all that she continues to accomplish in life."

ashley wruble, saint francis softball teammate (2020-24)

"Since I met Rach five years ago, she has been one of the most dedicated and hardworking people I know. She knows what she wants in life and never will let anything get in her way. I've always admired that about her. I'm thankful I got to experience five years of softball with her."

annabelle farmer, saint francis softball teammate (2023-24)

"Rachel is the hardest worker I know in all aspects of her life. She gives her all to everything and everyone around her and the world is a better place because of it. I hope everyone has the chance to work with someone like Rachel at least once in their life. I know I am better off now having her guidance and friendship these past two years."

Academics
Marsden, a 2023 Saint Francis graduate with a management degree, is working on her Master's of Business Administration in Loretto. She had a 3.91 GPA as an undergraduate and a 3.96 GPA in graduate school. A three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team representative, Marsden was named the NEC Softball Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2023 and repeated the honor in 2024. She has also been named to the NEC Commissioner's Honor Roll (3.75+ GPA) and NEC Academic Honor Roll (3.20+ GPA) five times in her career. 

Athletics Performance
Marsden was named to the All-NEC first team as a pitcher and designated player in 2024 for the Red Flash softball team. She was also selected to the NEC All-Tournament team and the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region second team as a hitter this season after helping the Red Flash to the regular season and tournament titles. She posted a 19-6 record on the mound and ranked second in the NEC wins (19), third in ERA (1.89), third in slugging percentage (.612), third in home runs (9), fifth in strikeouts (130), seventh in innings pitched (152.0), seventh in RBIs (32), and sixth in total bases (85). Her totals for wins and ERA ranked 33rd and 52nd in NCAA Division I. She knocked in the game-winning run against Siena in the NCAA Softball Championships to propel Saint Francis to its second NCAA win in program history and the third-ever for the university. Marden received the NEC Pitcher of the Week award four times and the NEC Player of the Week once, along with two NFCA Top Performer selections. 

Marden helped Saint Francis to four NEC Tournament titles, four NEC regular season titles, and four NCAA Tournament appearances. Named the 2022 NEC Pitcher of the Year, Marden was a four-time All-NEC first-team selection as a pitcher and a three-time All-NEC performer as a designated player (first - 2023 and 2024; second - 2022). In addition, she earned NFCA All-Region first-team honors in 2022 and second-team recognition in 2023 and 2024. Ranked No. 8 two-way player in NCAA Division I in 2023, she finished her career second in program history in wins (68), third in innings pitched (656.1), third in strikeouts (560), fourth appearances (126), and fifth in home runs (32). 

Leadership/Community Service
Marsden was a four-year team captain and a member of SAAC for the last two years, including serving on the Executive Board in 2023-24. She has participated in the campus-wide community service Reaching Every Door (RED) Day for five years, has held clinics, and has coached softball in her hometown of Erie since 2017.