Since its inception four years ago, Pipe Dream’s Female Rookie of the Year has been one of the biggest indicators of an athlete’s success at Binghamton University. Winners have gone on to be difference-makers, record-setters and even Player of the Year award finalists. Who will join the prestigious ranks this year? Find out Friday.

Lauren Bates, women’s tennis: The Buffalo native made her mark on Binghamton women’s tennis this season, going 24-6 in singles play, while teaming with fellow nominee Anna Edelman to go 14-2 at first doubles. Bates heads into next weekend’s America East without dropping a point to an AE opponent: She followed up her 6-0, 6-0 blanking of Hartford with a bagel against Albany on Sunday. Along with Edelman, Bates has provided a steady hand at the top of a BU lineup that never felt the strain of what could have been a rebuilding year.

Ali Castiglie, women’s lacrosse: Opponents couldn’t stop the attacker from Middle Island, N.Y. this season as she paired 16 goals with 19 assists to cruise to a team-high 35 points in what might have been the most successful season ever for Binghamton women’s lacrosse. Castiglie is the ultimate team player: Her 19 assists were 14 more than the next best Bearcat and she finished fifth in the AE in assists per game. She also has the second highest total assists for a freshman in school history. The team still has one more chance to eclipse the school record for wins in a season, and if it happens, fans can bet Castiglie will be a big part of the win.

Anna Edelman, women’s tennis: It was the year of the freshman for the women’s tennis team, as Edelman settled nicely into the No. 1 singles role and rattled off a 22-6 record in singles play. The Great Neck, N.Y. native also teamed with Lauren Bates to go 14-2 at the top doubles position. America East opponents have managed just two games off Edelman this season and she will be a vital key for the Bearcats if they wish to end Boston University’s domination of AE women’s tennis in next week’s championship.

Lindsey Mueller, volleyball: The setter from West Bend, Wis., found a home in Vestal this season, leading the team with 121 games played and 1,226 assists. Mueller also ranked fifth in the America East with 9.85 assists per game and was an integral part of the lineup for a Bearcat squad that made the playoffs for the fourth straight season. As a squad, Binghamton ranked last in the AE in assists, making Mueller’s impact all the more evident.

Deannie Plemon, softball: Plemon, a catch from Irvine, Calif., has provided a silver lining in a softball season filled with dark clouds. While the results have not shown in the win column, the emergence of younger players like Plemon, who leads the Bearcats with four home runs, show the potential for a light at the end of the tunnel. Plemon’s .221 batting average is fourth on the team, and she has started 34 of the team’s 35 games, including the April 3 game against Colgate, in which she hit an eventual game-winning home run in the sixth inning.