For the eleventh straight year, the Crusader men’s soccer team has been awarded with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award, as announced Thursday by the organization.

The Team Academic Award is awarded to soccer programs whose student-athletes have excelled in the classroom. The award is given annually, and in order to qualify, a program must obtain a composite grade point average of 3.00 or better for the academic year. The award is based on the composite GPA for the previous year, the 2012-2013 school year.

For their efforts in the classroom, the Crusader men earned a team GPA of 3.23 during the 2012-2013 school year. Horizon League members Oakland, Green Bay, Milwaukee, and UIC joined Valparaiso in receiving the award.

"I am very proud of my guys for the work that they do - both on and off the field,” said head coach Mike Avery. “This recognition from the NSCAA is just another example of our program's commitment to maintaining an environment that nurtures well-rounded student-athletes.  Our athletic department's stated goals are to develop champions in competition, in the classroom, and in the community, and we are excited to have the opportunity to continue working hard to live up to those expectations because we very much believe in them."