STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Stony Brook women's soccer forward Alyssa Francese will graduate on Friday with a bachelor's degree in business management and specialization in marketing. In addition to her diploma, she also has earned a prestigious Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award from America East.

The conference presents the award to graduating student-athletes who achieved at least a 3.75 cumulative GPA.

"As much as I strive for greatness and accomplishments on the field, I also always strived for the best grades I can get. So when I got the email about the award I thought it was really cool," said Francese, a native of Yorktown Heights in Westchester County. "Having a structured schedule, and balancing athletics and school, have been things I've been doing since I was younger. I never wanted to be the athlete who wasn't able to play because her grades were too low."

In three seasons with Stony Brook, Francese has tallied 30 goals and three assists in 54 career matches.

She previously had earned a Stony Brook University Undergraduate Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement in Athletics. She also became the program's first United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American after the 2019 season.

Strictly for on-the-field achievements, Francese was a United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region first-team selection, the America East Striker of the Year and an All-America East first-team honoree a year ago.

She scored seven game-winning goals in 2019, good for fifth in nation. Her dozen goals overall were the most by a Seawolves player since 2000, when Kerri McCabe Handras tallied 13.

Francese now has 30 career goals, which ranks fifth in program history. She is 15 shy of matching Stony Brook record-holder Erica Keller, who produced 45 from 1996 to 1998.

The good news: Francese will remain with the program with an opportunity to set the career goals mark.

While pursuing an advanced graduate certificate in coaching, she intends to participate with the Seawolves during the abbreviated spring schedule after the team lost its fall slate. She also plans to play the traditional season in the fall of 2021.

Francese ultimately intends to turn her passion for soccer into a career.

"I've always wanted to become a soccer coach," she said. "I've gotten more involved with local teams and camps over the years. I know it's just something I can't leave behind."