Dec. 18, 2002

Southern's Men's and Women's soccer programs earn NSCAA Team Academic Award

Six collegiate soccer coaches around the country, including Missouri Southern's Geoff VanDeusen, share the distinction of heading up both men's and women's soccer teams that received the 2001-02 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award.

A total of 42 institutions throughout the nation earned the award for both their men's and women's soccer programs.

The Missouri Southern men posted a 3.15 grade-point average in the 2001-02 academic year, while the Lady Lions had a 3.20 GPA. Teams must achieve a 3.0 GPA or higher to reach the honor.

Last year, eight members of the MSSC women's team and six from the men's squad earned spots on the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll. The Lions also had an MIAA Presidential Scholar in Wes Brewer. This year, 11 from the Lady Lions team placed on the MIAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll. The men's at-large honor roll isn't announced until the spring.

Among Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association schools, only the Missouri-Rolla women were listed among the teams receiving the NSCAA award.

In all, there were 67 men's teams and 213 women's programs around the country to receive an NSCAA Team Academic Award for the 2001-02 academic year.

The awards will be presented at a luncheon on Jan. 16 during the 2003 NSCAA Convention in Kansas City, Mo.