SAGE WOMEN'S AND MEN'S SOCCER TEAMS RECOGNIZED BY UNITED SOCCER COACHES FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Kansas City, MO. - The United Soccer Coaches (formerly the NSCAA) announced on Thursday the Team Academic Award Winners at the high school and college levels to recognize exemplary performance in the classroom during the 2016-17 academic year. A total of 813 collegiate teams (282 men, 531 women) earned the Team Academic Award, including 195 schools who had both their men's and women's programs among the recipients. The Sage Colleges' men's and women's teams were among the 195 institutions honored for success in the classroom and on the pitch.
The Sage Colleges' women's soccer team under the leadership of rookie head coach Garrett Cobb was recognized for their outstanding efforts in the classroom in 2016-2017 as the team combined for an impressive 3.51 combined grade point average. The Gator men's team also under the direction of a rookie coach, Keith Simons, combined for a 3.22 gpa. While Sage's women's team has been honored previously, this is the first selection for the Gator men's soccer team.
Sage's women's soccer team capped the n his first campaign with the Gator women's soccer team, Cobb directed the squad to a 12-8 overall record and a return to the Skyline Conference tournament. The 2016 campaign ended with a heartbreaking loss to the eventual league champions after garnering a 7-2 conference regular-season campaign in 2016.
Along the way, his team was nationally ranked 13 team categories for the 2016 campaign. Sage was ranked ninth nationally in assists per game average (2.75), while also ranking 12th in points per game average (9.25), 16th in scoring offense (3.25), as well as 10th in total assists (55), 21st in total goals (65), and 14th in total points (185).
Cobb commented "I'm extremely proud of the team for accomplishing such a tremendous goal." He continued, "We place academic achievement at the top of our goal list for the year and to be able to follow through is fantastic. The team works just as hard in the classroom as they do on the field and to be recognized by the United Soccer Coaches is a great honor!"
The Gator men's team lead by Simons also excelled. In his first year with the Gators, Simons directed the team back to the Skyline Conference Championship, only to drop a heartbreaker in the finals in overtime. He helped the young Sage team post a 7-8-5 overall record, while a pair of performers were honored as Skyline Conference All-Star players. Sage advanced to the finals after two contests were decided in penalty kicks in the post-season. Over the course of the 2016 Skyline season, Sage had a 5-5-1 showing in the Skyline Conference.
"We are very proud of our student-athletes for this important recognition," added Keith Simons. "Our guys work incredibly hard in the classroom and our program puts a major emphasis on academic excellence," added Simons.
Director of Athletics at Sage Sandy Augstein-Collins said, "All of the Sage coaches understand the academic demands that our student-athletes face everyday as they balance academics and athletics." She added, "Congratulations to Coach Simons and Coach Cobb on a job well done making it a priority for their teams. Congratulations to the men's and women's soccer teams for successfully juggling academics and athletics and representing Sage so well."
