JONESBORO, Ark. (10/14/16) – The Arkansas State women's soccer team has earned a team academic award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America for its outstanding performance in the classroom during the 2015-16 academic year.
The NSCAA annually recognizes college and high school soccer programs that have excelled in the classroom, in addition to their work on the field. A total of 893 soccer teams (315 men, 578 women) posted a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher, thereby earning the NSCAA College Team Academic Award for the 2015-16 academic year.
Of the 579 women's teams recognized by the NSCAA, the Red Wolves ranked among the top-200 schools with a team GPA of 3.30. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University posted the highest team GPA with a 3.85. Arkansas State was also one of five Sun Belt Conference schools to earn the honor.
Founded in 1941 and based in Kansas City, Mo., the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to educate coaches, encourage excellence and serve the soccer community.
The NSCAA is the world's largest soccer coaches' organization with members at every level of the game, from professional to grassroots. The membership also includes administrators, referees and others in the soccer industry. The NSCAA provides its members opportunities to enhance the game of soccer by providing a national education program, interaction and networking opportunities, and membership benefits.
The Red Wolves return home Sunday afternoon to host Georgia State for a Noon kickoff at the A-State Soccer Park, after a successful two match road swing where they produced a pair of victories that vaulted them into a six-way tie for third place in the Sun Belt Conference standings and just two points behind the league's second place team, South Alabama.
Sophomore Taylor Schneider has provided the offense for A-State, scoring goals in each of her last three games and was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career this past. She leads the squad with four goals on the season, three of which have been game-winning goals.
Defensively, sophomore Kelsey Ponder has continued her dominant play and posted back-to-back shutouts in A-State's two wins over the weekend. She ranks second in the NCAA with 102 saves on the season and is on pace to break the single-season record of 108 saves set by Susan Brown in 2009.
Admission to Sunday's game against the Panthers is free, with live streaming also available for free on the Red Wolves Digital Network.
For the latest on information on the A-State women's soccer team, log onto AStateRedWolves.com or follow the team's Facebook page at Facebook.com/AStateSoccer and follow them on Twitter @AStateSoccer.
