KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) honored both the men's and women's soccer teams from Lesley University for their outstanding academic achievement for the 2007-2008 academic year.  This marks the first time the men's program has earned this award while the women achieved this honor for the seventh straight season.

Both teams continue exemplify their identity as solid performers on-the-field and off-the-field.  The NSCAA/adidas Team Academic award recognizes soccer teams that posted a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher for the entire year.  A total of 371 teams (107 men, 264) were given the award.  Of that total, just 63 schools had both their men's and women's programs recognized.

Lesley was the only school from the New England Collegiate Conference to have both their men's and women's teams recognized by the NSCAA/adidas for Team Academic Award.

Lesley's Director of Student-Athlete Academic Support, Christy Belisle praised this accomplishment, "We have always prided ourselves at the University for producing ‘scholar'-athletes, and it is part of our history on the women's side.  This year is extra exciting as our men emerge as leaders in the classroom."

Both Lynx squads experienced tremendous success this past fall as they each reached the conference finals, however both teams fell just short of becoming conference champions.  With a full off-season of recruiting in full swing and a large number of starters returning on both sides, the Lynx aim to be competitors for the NECC Championship again in 2009. 

To learn more about the Lesley University men's and women's soccer teams, please visit their sport pages on our athletics website.

Contact:          Rob Palardy
                        Sports Information Director
                        Lesley University
                        617.349.8627 (office)
                        617.349.8640 (fax)
                        rpalardy@lesley.edu