Commonwealth Coast Conference release
KANSAS CITY, Mo.- The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) announced its 2014-15 College Team Academic Award winners and for the third time in the last four years, the Endicott men's soccer program has received this distinction under the guidance of head coach Joe Calabrese.
The NSCAA Team Academic Award was presented to a total of 868 soccer teams (308 men, 560 women) for posting a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or higher in the previous school year.
Endicott men's soccer head coach Joe Calabrese had this to say about the team's 3.22 Team GPA and the honor:
"Our team goal a year ago was to have the highest men's team GPA among all the varsity sports at Endicott," said Calabrese, "It's something we pay attention to. We recruit really good student-athletes, and the priority at this level is that you're a student-athlete first and foremost."
The men's soccer team has earned this distinction three times (2012, 2014, 2015) since the award was instituted in 1996.
"It goes back to our values. We want to be competitive on the field and in the classroom. We also want to be competitive amongst ourselves as a team in GPA and we are aware of the other varsity sports on campus and I think that is a good thing for our varsity sports here at Endicott with how competitive we are," said Calabrese.
This past season, the Gulls posted a 12-7-4 record overall and a 4-2-3 record in CCC play as advanced to the CCC Semifinals in 2014 for the first time since 2005 and then went on to win the program's first ever ECAC DIII New England Championship with a 2-1 OT win over Colby-Sawyer.
In 2014, the Gulls placed four men's soccer student-athletes on the 2014 Academic All-CCC Team. During Calabrese's four years, the Gulls have also placed 15 student-athletes on the Academic All-CCC team and have seen one player go on to earn CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District First Team honors as well as CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-America First Team honors in Greg Capece ('12).
"For us, academics are something that's discussed weekly. It's a priority in our program and I think there is a direct relationship between your successes on the field and in the classroom, just as I believe there is a direct relationship with your successes and life in general being a good man…if you're a good man, then more positive things are going to happen to you."
A total of 217 schools had both their men's and women's programs recognized and Endicott is proud to announce that both the men's and women's soccer teams made this list, marking the third time in school history that both teams have received the honor in the same year.
Of the 217 schools to have their men's and women's programs recognized, Endicott, Roger Williams and Wentworth represent the Commonwealth Coast Conference. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.