BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men’s soccer program was recognized today by the United Soccer Coaches (formerly the NSCAA) as one of 720 teams across all three Divisions to earn the Team Academic Award for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Bridgewater State is one of only two men’s soccer programs in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) to earn such recognition.

In order to garner the Team Academic Award, a squad must post a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher for the academic year. Under head coach Brendan Adams, the Bears posted a 3.07 GPA as a unit last year. 2020-2021 marks the sixth time in the last seven years under Coach Adams that Bridgewater State has collected the award from the national coaches’ organization. The Bears also picked up the award in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020.

Individually, Bridgewater State saw 11 team members earn MASCAC Fall/Winter All-Academic honors in 2020-2021, including returning players Nicholas Hasenfus (Attleboro, Mass.), Kyle Lenihan (Rockland, Mass.), Ryan O'Donnell (Westerly, R.I.), Dan Rickson (West Warren, Mass.), Kevin Roberts (Medway, Mass.) and William Russell (Sandwich, Mass.). Roberts, who is playing this season as a graduate student, was also selected to the 2020-2021 Academic All-District® One Division III Men's Soccer Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).