Nov. 25, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's soccer team captured the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for the 2013-14 school year, the NSCAA announced.
To qualify for the award, a team must have a minimum grade point average of 3.25 for the entire academic year. The team GPA is determined by adding every player's GPA, then dividing by the number of players. Penn State posted a 3.26 grade point average for last year's fall and spring semesters combined.
The Blue and White has earned the Team Academic Award seven of eight seasons during head coach Erica Walsh's tenure, with the 2013-2014 honor coming as the sixth consecutive honor.
Leading the team both on the field and in the classroom were seniors Maya Hayes (West Orange, N.J.) and Taylor Schram (Canonsburg, Pa.), who were both named to the 2013 NSCAA Women's Scholar All-America First Team. Hayes, the No. 6 pick in the NWSL Draft, an NSCAA second team All-American and first team All-Big Ten selection, achieved a 3.39 grade point average as a kinesiology major. Schram garnered a 3.40 grade point average in her final semester at Penn State as a psychology major, earning NSCAA first team All-Great Lakes accolades and second team All-Big Ten laurels.
After beating Virginia Tech, 1-0, in NCAA Tournament semifinals on Nov. 23, the Nittany Lions travel to College Station, Texas to face off against No. 5 Texas A&M in Penn State's 10th Elite Eight appearance. The quarterfinal match is on Sat., Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. (CT).