St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Soccer Earns NSCAA Team Academic Award
11/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 21, 2003
Jamaica, N.Y. - The St. John's University men's soccer team has been ranked among the top playing teams in the country for the last 12 years.
During that time, they've also been rated as one of the smartest teams in the country.
The Red Storm, who are 14-5-2 and seeded No. 6 in the 2003 NCAA Tournament, were one of 336 intercollegiate soccer programs nationwide (71 men, 265 women) to earn Team Academic honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, it was announced this week.
The Red Storm men's soccer team, which won the 2003 BIG EAST Regular Season Championship, posted a combined team grade-point average of 3.16. The St. John's women's soccer team was also recognized for its team grade-point average of 3.35.
St. John's was one of only 48 schools across the country to have both its men's and women's team both earn NSCAA Team Academic Awards.
"This is a great honor, for both of our programs," St. John's Head Men's Soccer Coach Dave Masur said. "Our kids work hard on and off the field, and it's always nice to see that recognized."
The St. John's men's soccer team will host a second-round NCAA Tournament match on Wednesday, November 26 at 7 p.m. at Belson Stadium on the Queens campus.
St. John's was selected to participate in the 48-team NCAA Tournament on Monday for the 12th-straight year. The Red Storm, who carry a 14-5-2 overall record into the NCAAs, were tabbed as the No. 6 seed and received a first round bye.
They will play the winner of the Rhode Island-Connecticut match, which will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Storrs, Connecticut. The Rams (13-9-1) received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after beating Temple, 3-1, in the Atlantic 10 Championship, while the Huskies (8-8-3) received an at-large berth.
This is the third-straight year the Red Storm will receive a first-round bye, and the third-straight year, the team will host games. St. John's has been selected to participate in the NCAA Tournament for 12-straight years and carries a 14-10 all-time record. They won the 1996 NCAA Championship, reached the 2001 NCAA Final Four and are one of only two teams to advance to the Round of Sixteen in each of the last seven years (joined by Indiana).