Eastern Mennonite University’s women’s soccer team have earned a rare award for the 2015 season, the Silver Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award. It was awarded by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
The Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award recognizes teams that exhibit fair play, sporting behavior and adherence to the laws of the game, reflected by the number of yellow or red cards they receive. The Royals were given just two yellow cards over the course of their 18-game season. That 11.1% card percentage (total cards divided by total games) qualified them for the Silver Award.
“We are pleased to be recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America for our fair play on the field this past season,” said coach Ted Erickson. “The women on this team play a sport they love with true passion, desire, and a respect for the game and their opponent. This quality is something that my staff and I look at when recruiting prospective athletes and believe that what we currently have and are currently bringing in will only continue this standard that we have set.”
Only 15 teams across all NCAA and NAIA levels of collegiate soccer earned the Gold Award (1-10%), while eight teams earned Platinum status by receiving no cards. In all, 83 teams received either the Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze version of the College Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award.
Eastern Mennonite recently completed their second season under Ted Erickson, with only six upperclassmen out of a roster of 19 women.