Only 33 NCAA Division I universities have earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award in both men's and women's soccer.  One of those is the University of Evansville.

The NSCAA informed UE men's soccer coach Mike Jacobs and UE women's soccer coach Chris Pfau about the honor today.  A total of 412 soccer teams spanning Division I, II and III earned the NSCAA academic award, including 299 women's soccer programs and 113 in men's soccer.  Only 74 schools earned the award in both the men's and women's soccer programs, and of those 74, 33 were Division I schools.

"As much as we improved from 2005 to 2007 on the field, I feel like this is an even greater achievement because of how far this group has come in the classroom during that same time," Coach Jacobs said about the UE men's program.

Added Coach Pfau, "It speaks highly of our women's soccer team.  Not only have they brought back success to our program on the field, they have shown that they can succeed in the classroom.  What is great about the players is that they push themselves in both aspects, and it is great to see them get recognized."

Last month, six Evansville players made the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team.  First team selections included Heidi Grey, Kayla Lambert and Julie Winkler on the women's squad, and Dustin Awe as a first team selection on the men's squad.  The men also had honorable mention players Sam Bornstein and Erik Johnson.