Women’s Soccer Earns NSCAA College Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award

The Central Connecticut women's soccer team was named a recipient of the NSCAA's Silver Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award this past week in a release by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The Blue Devils were honored with the award in recognition of their exhibition of fair play, sporting behavior and adherence to the laws of the game, as reflected by the percentage of yellow caution cards and red ejection cards they were shown by referees throughout the 2015 season. Central was cautioned with just five yellow cards over a span of 17 games this past season to earn them the Silver Award, which is given to teams that accumulate a percentage of cards on the year ranging from 11-30%.

OFFICIAL NSCAA RELEASE

"We remind our players before every game to respect our opponents, respect the referees and to respect the game", stated head women's soccer coach Mick D'Arcy. "Over the last two years we have had a total of eight yellow cards in over 35 games. It's a great indicator that our team plays the game in a sporting manner. To be recognized by the NSCAA as being in the top 1% in terms of discipline on the field is something that our coaches and student athletes can take great pride from".

In total, the Blue Devils were one of only 84 teams across all of Division I, II and III men's and women's soccer to receive either the Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze version of the College Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award. Eight teams collected the Platinum Award, which was awarded to teams who did not accumulate a single card during the season, 16 teams earned the Gold Award (1-10%), 43 claimed the Silver Award (11-30%) and 17 teams were presented the Bronze Award (31-50%).

It marks the second straight year that the CCSU women's soccer team has registered five cards or less in a season. On the way to their eighth Northeast Conference Championship in program history, the Blue Devils totaled just three cards over 21 games in the 2014 season to give them eight in 38 games spanning the past two years.

About the NSCAA
Founded in 1941 and based in Kansas City, Mo., the National Soccer Coaches Association of America has grown into the world's largest soccer coaches' organization that serves members at every level of the game. The NSCAA works every day to inspire coaches and ignite their passion for the game so they pass it on to players and others in the soccer community. We fulfill that goal through three core values: "Learn. Participate. Belong."