BENNINGTON, Vt. — For the fourth consecutive year, the Southern Vermont College women's soccer team has worked hard enough in the classroom to earn the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) College Team Academic Award as announced by the organization on Wednesday.

The 2014-2015 accolade recognizes a 2014 SVC team that collectively posted a 3.45 grade point average in last year's academic period. The Mountaineers are one of 558 collegiate women's teams to reach the 3.0 threshold that is required for the honor; there were an additional 307 men's teams that garnered the laurel with 217 institutions across the country seeing both teams recognized.

"It can be extremely difficult balancing academics and athletics," commented fifth year SVC head coach Michael Zauzig. "I'm extremely proud of the commitment and focus the team has put on their studies. I'm happy that last year's team has kept this overwhelmingly positive tradition alive."

Coach Zauzig has now seen each of his four previous Mountaineer teams work their way to collecting the team honor. "It was always one of my first goals when I arrived at SVC," he continued. "I wanted our team to excel in the classroom and on the field. I have always wanted our top two priorities being academics and athletics, in that order. I want serious students and serious athletes; not only have the teams understood these priorities, but made them their own."

The Southern Vermont women's squad was joined by both the men's and women's teams from Lesley University as the only award recipients from the New England Collegiate Conference this year.

"I want our student-athletes to be well prepared for their professional careers when their collegiate career comes to an end," added Zauzig. "Being a student-athlete is a privilege, not a right. At times, we take both of these opportunities, academics and athletics, for granted. Both opportunities provide lessons and teach the student-athletes values that will help make them successful wherever they go."