BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men’s and women's soccer programs were recognized today by the United Soccer Coaches as one of 783 teams (295 men, 488 women) across all three Divisions to earn the Team Academic Award for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Bridgewater State has the only two 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 Yasmina Carvalho, the BSU women's team posted an impressive 3.52 team GPA during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Individually, the Bears saw 21 team members earn MASCAC Fall/Winter All-Academic honors in 2021-2022. Seniors Cassie Brown (Augusta, Maine), Hannah Johnson (Whitman, Mass.), Amber Jorge (Berkley, Mass.), Caitlyn Laliberte (Somerset, Mass.), Delaney Langton (Scituate, R.I.), Madelyn Morin (East Longmeadow, Mass.), Samantha Tomaszewski (Sterling, Mass.) and Tori Viola-Laughery (Brockton, Mass.) each garnered the accolade as well as juniors Michelle Belcher (Norton, Mass.), Erin Clancey (Middletown, R.I.), Monica Eires (New Bedford, Mass.), Kelly Powers (Stoneham, Mass.), Samantha Rischitelli (North Brookfield, Mass.) and Elizabeth Zollo (Monson, Mass.); sophomores Megan Keller (Northborough, Mass.), Nicole Major (Andover, Mass.), Audra McDuffie (Millbury, Mass.), Stephanie Spear (Blackstone, Mass.), Emma Stanlewicz (West Suffield, Conn.) and Abigail Valdez (North Attleboro, Mass.); and freshman Giana Maggi (East Longmeadow, Mass.).
Under head coach Brendan Adams, the BSU men's team posted a 3.17 GPA as a unit last year. 2022 marks the seventh time in the last eight years that Bridgewater State has collected the award from the national coaches’ organization. The Bears also picked up the award in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Individually, the Bears saw 14 team members earn MASCAC Fall/Winter All-Academic honors in 2021-2022. Graduate student Kevin Roberts (Medway, Mass.) and seniors Liam Lenihan (Rockland, Mass.), Ryan O'Donnell (Westerly, R.I.), Dan Rickson (West Warren, Mass.) and William Russell (Sandwich, Mass.) each garnered the accolade as well as juniors Nicholas Hasenfus (Attleboro, Mass.), Robson Montrond (Brockton, Mass.); sophomores Will Halben (Attleboro, Mass.), Kyle Lenihan (Rockland, Mass.), David Nelson (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and Jacob Ramos (New Bedford, Mass.); and freshmen Aidan Lindmark (Norfolk, Mass.), Jack O'Toole (Wilbraham, Mass.) and Justin Silva (North Attleboro, Mass.).