The Eastern Illinois women’s soccer team was honored for its academic excellence for the ninth time in 10 years by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Eastern ranked sixth out of the 306 Division I women’s programs and in the top 25 of all women’s collegiate programs, regardless of division, with their team grade point average of 3.47 for the 2003-2004 academic school year.

“I think it’s a great honor for our program,” said Eastern head coach Steve Ballard.

The team grade point average of 3.47 was the highest posted in the history of the women’s soccer program here at Eastern and was also the highest GPA in the Ohio Valley Conference. Eastern has ranked in the top 100 in the nation each year since 2000 while achieving a higher grade point average each year as well.

The academic success is added on to the success the team has achieved on the field. Eastern won their fourth consecutive conference tournament title this past season and also went to their fourth straight NCAA College Cup.

Coach Ballard thinks the success both academically and on the field go hand in hand.

“If you’re going to be successful on the field, then you must be successful off of the field,” he said.

Sophomore Trisha Walter and junior Kim Garkie were both winners of the OVC Medal of Honor, which are awarded for posting 4.0 GPAs during the 2003-2004 academic year. Walter was also named to the Second Team All-Academic District V last month.

“It feels pretty good knowing people look at academics and not just at athletics,” Garkie said.

She also said that Coach Ballard always stressed the importance of schoolwork and that schoolwork comes first.

There were a total of 290 women’s teams from all divisions that achieved the minimum grade point average of 3.0.

Other Athletes Honored

-Krissy Peters, cross country/track

-Meagan Scaggs, basketball

-Nicole Marczewski, track

-Erica Gerth, volleyball

-Dane Gray, golf

-Jeff Denny, baseball

-Teri LaRoche, soccer

-C.J. Weber, tennis

-Kristin Lovering, softball