ITHACA, N.Y. -- Junior forward Rachael Palladino (Lansing/Lansing) of the Ithaca College women's soccer team has been named the Ithaca Journal's Kenny Van Sickle Award winner as 2011's top female athlete.

Palladino earned first-team all-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America after leading the Bombers to the NCAA final four for the first time since 1998. She's the first Bomber named a first-team all-American in 17 years and is Ithaca's first recipient of the Ithaca Journal's Female Athlete of the Year award since all-American softball pitcher Robin Bimson in 2000. Tracy Deyle, a three-time all-American and member of Ithaca's 1990 and 1991 national championship teams, is the only other Bomber soccer player to earn the honor.

Palladino is a three-time first-team all-region selection and a two-time all-American (earning third-team recognition last year). A three-time first-team Empire 8 all-star, she was the league's Rookie of the Year in 2009 and the Offensive Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011. She's the program's second-leading career scorer (50 goals, 19 assists, 119 points) and will enter her senior season  30 points away from passing two-time all-American Chelsey Feldman (61 goals, 26 assists, 148 points) for Ithaca's all-time record.