BALTIMORE – The One Love Foundation in honor of Yeardley Reynolds Love, today announced that Jason Noble is one of 10 finalists for the 2013 Yeardley Reynolds Love (YRL) Unsung Hero Award.  Established in 2011, the YRL Unsung Hero Award celebrates the selfless acts of initiative and commitment performed by Division I lacrosse players. The award winners (one female, one male) will be announced in late-May, leading up to the culmination of the NCAA lacrosse season.

Noble embodies the student-athlete who works hard to achieve success through great character, and leadership by example.  In addition to the lacrosse team, he is a member of the Sphinx Head Honor Society, a group that recognizes members of the Cornell senior class who have given their time and passion to the university during their undergraduate years. Noble's commitment to community service includes involvement in numerous projects such as the 21 Run and Save the Day 3 vs. 3 youth lacrosse tournament. Last fall, he helped with the Oswego, N.Y. flood relief efforts after one of the worst floods in that area's history.  A co-captain of the 2013 Cornell men's lacrosse team, Noble was awarded the team's Hard Hat for the 2012 season, given each year to a junior that the coaching staff feels demonstrates a blue-collar approach to the game of lacrosse; driven and selfless, not always the most talented player on the field, but consistently the hardest worker.

Earlier today, Noble earned his third All-Ivy accolade overall and his second first-team selection as the anchor of the 14th best defense in the nation. He ranks 13th in the nation this season in caused turnovers (2.0 per game) and for his career, he has registered the third most caused turnovers among all active Division I defenders with 109. The Big Red's most consistent ground ball guy, Noble has registered at least one ground ball in all but one game during his career and currently has the longest streak on the team at 51 games. After holding the reigning Tewaaraton Trophy winner to just one meaningless assist and only three shots, none of which were one goal, in Cornell's 19-3 victory against Colgate, Noble was named the Ivy League Co-Player of the Week on March 11. He is the first defensemen to win the award since the 2010 season. That same week, he was honored as the National Player of the Week by the Baltimore Sun.

“We would like to thank every lacrosse program that submitted a nomination,” said Sharon Robinson, a member of the YRL Unsung Hero Award selection committee.  “We were so impressed with the student-athletes that were nominated and wish we could reward them all.  It is so reassuring to see how these future leaders are contributing to their communities in a positive manner.  Our goal is to continue growing this award as well as its prestige in college athletics, so we can celebrate the good in college athletics and continue to honor Yeardley's legacy.”

Formerly given to lacrosse players in the ACC Conference, the award became open to all Division I programs this year. These outstanding student-athletes are recognized based on the following criteria:  dedication, integrity, humility, hard work, community service, leadership, kindness and sportsmanship. The award recognizes accomplishments of student-athletes who help their team achieve success in ways that may not be measured in goals, saves or ground balls. The honor is meaningful because it places value on characteristics that are often undervalued in the competitively charged environment of college athletics.
 
Five women and five men have been selected as finalists for the 2013 YRL Unsung Hero Award.  These finalists will be represented on the award's website, www.JoinOneLove.org/UnsungHeroes, and in the June issue of Inside Lacrosse magazine, the award's media partner.


About the One Love Foundation:
The One Love Foundation was co-founded by Sharon and Lexie Love in May 2010 to honor their daughter and sister, Yeardley Reynolds Love, a University of Virginia student-athlete who was killed by her ex-boyfriend. The One Love Foundation's primary mission is to end Relationship Violence through education and technology. In September 2012, One Love launched its “Be 1 for Change” campaign to heighten public awareness and perception of the Relationship Violence epidemic in the United States.  The organization supports its mission through core values Yeardley exemplified; Education, Service, Kindness, Dedication, Humility and Sportsmanship.  For more information, visit www.JoinOneLove.org or follow www.Twitter.com/JoinOneLove