Shea Seagle Awad was a cornerstone for Barton College’s first-ever conference championships in women’s soccer – 2001 and 2002 under Todd Bailess – and spearheaded the program to a four-year record of 47-23-3 overall and a 33-9-2 mark in league play.
“A very strong focus. A fierce competitiveness. A thirst for knowledge and learning. A passion for the game,” said Awad, who was asked about the keys to her success as a Bulldogs’ student-athlete.
The apex of Awad’s collegiate career at Barton came in 2001 and 2002. The 2001 team won a school-record 12 straight matches and finished with a record of 16-2-1 (9-1-1 in conference play) and advanced to the NCAA Division II South Region Championship (Round of 16). The 2001 team was also ranked as high as No. 8 in the nation and won the CVAC Tournament Championship while the 2002 squad went 13-4-1 and finished 10-1 in league action.
“I’ve always been small but mighty and fast,” said Awad, who was a first-team all-conference and all-tournament defender. Awad said she was proud of being part of a defense which set school records for most shutouts (2001) and fewest goals allowed (2002) in addition to leading a defense which ranked in the top 10 nationally.
“My job – and one I took so much pride in – was to mark the opponent’s leading goal-scorer, All-Americans or the fastest forward and shut them down.
Awad, a three-sport athlete in high school playing volleyball, women’s soccer and basketball, was recruited to Barton by then-mentor Scott Ginn. Awad, a product of Clover Hill High School and a native of Richmond, Va., also played on the Virginia Olympic Development Team.
“Choosing Barton was a feeling I had,” said Awad with regards to her recruitment. “I had visited many schools, several more than once and upon visiting Barton, I felt at home. I could envision myself on the field, in that locker room, with those teammates, on that campus, in those classrooms and in that community.”
“It felt so right and I was confident in my decision to become a Bulldog. I followed my heart there and never looked back.”
The four-year letterwinner (1999-02) graduated in 2003 from Barton with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentrations in marketing and management. Awad also graduated with a 3.94 grade point average – Summa Cum Laude – and was the 2002-03 Barton nominee for the Murphy Osborne Award, the highest honor bestowed on a student-athlete by the league each year.
Awad looks back on her collegiate career with fond memories which include never-ending and exhausting overtime minutes, long bus rides, three-a-day practices in the blazing North Carolina heat, early mornings, late evenings, intense training sessions, endless hours in the training room, excruciating ice baths, hours of physical therapy, gut-wrenching nerves before a game and the pressure of close games but she wouldn’t trade it away for anything.
“I cherish my time at Barton – every moment on the field and in the classroom, starting my career in the town of Wilson, being a member of this wonderful community and volunteering my time with the YMCA and their sports and at-risk programs. On and off the field, my teammates and I had each other’s backs and it was a blast,” said Awad.
Awad also relished the Bulldogs’ role as underdogs even during their record-breaking 2001 campaign. “Our Sweet 16 appearance was my fondest memory. The memories made with my teammates will forever be cherished. Our team was just incredibly special. It was such a fun, talented and dedicated group. We fought through so many overtime minutes and pushed each other to our limits and beyond to take down one nationally-ranked team after another. We were champions!”
Currently, Awad is employed in Richmond, Va., as the Physician Liaison for Ben Secours East, partnering with and supporting all providers and practices in the Memorial Regional Medical Center, Richmond Community Hospital and Rappahannock General Hospital Services area.
Awad also worked for a variety of non-profit organizations in both Wilson, N.C., and Richmond, Va., including the Arts Council of Wilson, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the American Heart Association.
In addition, Awad stays active as well as she takes TRX and cycle classes at the gymnasium and plays football and volleyball with her husband and other family and friends.
Awad and her husband, Ben, are the proud parents of one son (seven-yard old Jackson) and one daughter (five-year old Joey). The family resides in Glen Allen, Va.
Awad is also not shy to thank those who she said helped her earn this prestigious honor. “Since my early days at Barton, it was evident that the entire college was supportive of and invested in our team. Dr. James B. Hemby (former Barton President), Tony Tilley, our professors, Curt Dog, and so many others who lined the fence to cheer us on.”
