Willamette Women's Soccer Earns NSCAA Team Academic Award for 2012-13

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's soccer team has received the Team Academic Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) for the 2012-13 academic year. It is the third consecutive year that Willamette has qualified for the award.

A total of 593 women's soccer teams from all three NCAA divisions, the NAIA and junior colleges earned the Team Academic Award in 2012-13. The honor goes to teams with a minimum cumulative team grade point average of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale). The award runs a year behind the competition calendar since it also includes academic results from the spring semester.

The Bearcats who played on the 2012 squad combined for a 3.32 cumulative team grade point average at the end of the 2012-13 academic year. Willamette finished 5-13-2 overall and 3-11-2 in the Northwest Conference during the 2012 season.

Willamette was one of just three women's teams from the Northwest Conference that qualified for the award in 2012-13. The other NWC teams were Whitworth University and Pacific University.

"This is our program's third consecutive year to receive the NSCAA Team Academic Award, and Im so proud of my scholar-athletes and their commitment to success both on the field and in the classroom," Willamette Head Coach Hillary Arthur said.

The Bearcats also received the NSCAA Team Academic Award in 2010-11 with a 3.32 GPA and in 2011-12 with a 3.30 GPA.