Oct. 6, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s soccer programs both earned NSCAA Team Academic Awards, the association announced on Thursday. The Gamecocks are one of 221 schools from all levels of college soccer to have both the men’s and women’s teams earn the distinction.

A total of 892 soccer teams (315 men, 577 women) from throughout the United States have earned the NSCAA Team Academic Award for exemplary performance in the classroom as a team during the 2015-16 academic year.

To qualify for the award, the team must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher for the entire academic year. The team GPA is determined by adding every player’s GPA, then dividing by the number of players.

Shelley Smith’s women’s team has taken the honor now 14 times in history, including each of the last nine seasons. Mark Berson’s men’s group has garnered the accolade 11 times, including twice having the highest GPA amongst NCAA Division I teams.

The Gamecock women play tonight at SEC foe Mississippi State at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on SEC Network+/WatchESPN. A win gives the team a program-record 12 straight wins.

The Gamecock men return to action Saturday night as they face FIU in a Conference USA match. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Miami. The men will be going for their seventh-straight win.