KANSAS CITY, Kan. - University of South Alabama soccer earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic award for 2009, as announced Monday by the NSCAA office.

To qualify for the award, a team must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 for the 2008-09 academic year. Monday's announcement marks the third consecutive year the Jaguars have earned the award, and the seventh time in the past eight seasons.

"It's always a team goal to do well academically, so I'm proud of the young ladies for their achievement," USA head coach Mike Varga said. "We want to do well and win games, but this is for their future. We want them to do well academically and be able to be marketable when they leave South Alabama. It's important for them to get their degrees and do well, and distinguish themselves as student-athletes.

"I think that's why a lot of the women who have come through here and played have gone on and been successful after college. It is something that we strive for every year. One of my main goals for the team is for them to do well in the classroom. It's very important, and ranks up there with everything else we try to do."

A total of eight Sun Belt Conference teams received the award. In comparison, only five SBC teams earned NSCAA Team Academic awards last year.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

-USA-