Friday, September 25, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – Six men’s and women’s soccer teams from the GNAC were honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America 2014-15 College Academic Team Award. The list of recepients from the GNAC are the men’s soccer teams from Northwest Nazarene and Saint Martin’s and the women’s soccer teams from Central Washington, Montana State Billings, Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon.

The Academic Team Award is given to those that post a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher. A total of 859 teams (308 men, 560 women) were recognized during the 2014-15 academic year. Saint Martin’s was one of 217 schools to have both of its men’s and women’s soccer programs recognized.

Northwest Nazarene men’s soccer finished with a 3.11 cumulative team grade point average, while Saint Martin’s men’s soccer had a 3.01 GPA. Saint Martin’s had the top academic women’s soccer team GPA in the GNAC at 3.54. Central Washington had a 3.42 GPA, Western Oregon with a 3.37 and Montana State Billings rounded out the women’s teams with a 3.23 GPA.

This is the first year the NNU men’s soccer team has received the Academic Team Award. Saint Martin’s received the award for the second time in program history, with the first one coming in 2012.

For the women’s teams, Saint Martin’s received the award for the fourth-straight year. Central Washington earned the award for the sixth-straight year and seventh overall. Montana State Billings received the award for the 14th-straight season, the first coming in 2002. Western Oregon women’s soccer earned the award for the third time in as many years.