TicketsMarch 9, 2011
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati announced founding member of the UC women's soccer program, the late Kim Berman, as the recipient of the 2011 National Girls and Women in Sports Day Award.
"We are pleased the BIG EAST recognized the accomplishments and the impact that Kim Berman has had and continues to have on our program," said UC head women's soccer coach Michelle Salmon. "Her legacy as a person and as a member of our Bearcat family will be forever felt by our program. I would like to thank Brian and his family for being a part of such special night honoring Kim's legacy and continuing on Kim's dream for our program."
Berman, who passed away at the age of 52 in the fall of 2010 after a long battle with breast cancer, leaves a strong legacy behind at the University of Cincinnati and in women's sports. As a founder of the UC women's soccer club, Berman spearheaded the proposal to take the team to varsity status and played her senior year at UC as a member of the varsity team she helped create. She remained involved with soccer after she graduated from UC, serving as an officer and director of youth soccer in Nevada, where she lived for 26 years.
The Cincinnati native was a co-captain of the 1980 Bearcats team that finished with a 12-2 overall record in its first season as a varsity team. UC won its first five matches and only allowed one goal during that stretch, scoring 22 goals. The Bearcats finished second in the Midwest Intercollegiate Women's Soccer League regular season and won the MIWSL Championship.
As a recipient of the 2011 National Girls and Women in Sports Day Award, Berman represents the type of woman that UC feels its female student-athletes should strive to emulate and follow. Her husband, Brian, attended the Feb. 28 Bearcats women's basketball game to receive the award on behalf of Berman, which was presented by Salmon and UC Senior Associate Director of Athletics Robin Martin.
Brian and his family recently gave a significant contribution toward the establishment of an endowment in Kim Berman's memory to benefit the UC soccer program.