NSCAA Team Academic Award presented to Nine E8 Soccer Teams
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) announced the recipients of its
2012-13 College Team Academic Awards, and the Empire 8 Athletic Conference was well-represented, with nine E8 soccer teams honored.
In order to be eligible for the NSCAA College Team Academic Award, a team must have a team grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for the 2012-13 academic year. This year, the E8 had seven women's soccer teams and two men's teams meet that qualification to earn the award.
On the women's side, Ithaca College turned in the highest GPA of the seven E8 team honored with a 3.55. St. John Fisher College was close behind with a 3.52 followed by Elmira who turned in a 3.49. The other teams honored, in order of GPA were: Stevens (3.37), Houghton (3.35), Nazareth (3.34) and Alfred (3.24).
On the men's side, Houghton and Ithaca were recognized. The Highlanders recorded a team gpa of 3.21, while the Bombers registered a 3.38.
In 2013, the NSCAA recognized a total of 863 teams with its College Team Academic Award, including 593 women's teams and 270 men's teams. There were 186 schools to have both their men's and women's team earn the distinction, including Houghton and Ithaca from the E8.