Brains and brawn bring in accolades for USU soccer
Nearly two months after the completion of USU women soccer’s most successful season, awards and recognition continue to pour in for the team and individual players alike.
For the fourth straight season, the team was honored with the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA)/Adidas College Women Team Academic Award. All of the awards were earned under the supervision of Head Coach Heather Cairns.
Cairns said at the beginning of each season the team sets three goals – one for on-field performance, one for how to be a good teammate and a final goal to achieve the academic award.
“I think setting academic goals as part of our overall team goals just really places that emphasis on it,” Cairns said. “I think that helps. They know that they’re here to get an education. They spend a lot of time playing soccer, and that’s really close to academics.”
“The girls have to have some self-motivation to achieve academically too. When we bring girls in as recruits, that’s one thing we look at,” she said.
Utah State was one of only two teams in Utah to receive this award, sharing the honor with Weber State. The USU soccer team posted a mean grade point average of 3.46, placing them among the best academic athletes in the nation. Only 27 of the 235 teams who received this award posted a higher GPA.
The Aggies were the only team in the WAC to receive the award.
Cairns said she credits the academic success of her players to their individual effort and the careful monitoring of Amy Crosbie of Student Athlete Services.
“We were on the road so much this year, so for us to still be able to accomplish that is a credit to the girls,” Cairns said. “It’s also a credit to Amy Crosbie. She helps out in a ton of different ways in guiding the girls academically. Our academic office is really good because they have a lot of services available to the athletes. We have tutors at study hall hours.”
Though academics may not be everything for student athletes, they are the primary reason for athletes being at USU, Cairns said. Student athletes face a difficult task of balancing athletics and academics, she said.
“Soccer isn’t an academic subject, but it’s something you’re constantly learning,” Cairns said. “What we’ve found is that even though you put a lot of hours in with soccer, your time is more limited, so it makes you more focused and be more organized with the time you do have. They definitely have to balance the two.”
Smith wins academic award
Senior midfielder Sierra Smith made the honorable mention list of the NSCAA/Adidas College Women Scholar All-West Region for her performance on the field and in the classroom.
Smith, who holds the career record in matches played and started, was the only USU player to be recognized and one of 11 players from the WAC to be honored. Smith’s 3.87 GPA and consistent playing during her career qualified her for the award.
“That’s a particularly special award because it takes into account your academic achievement, but it also takes into account your soccer achievement,” Head Coach Heather Cairns said. “Sierra is just so steady and so consistent, and this is a result of her being consistent in any area a coach could want. It’s a combination of the both.”
Though posting only 13 points during her career, Smith started 73 matches and played in 76 matches, more than any other player.
Griffin a top goalie
Sophomore goalkeeper Ali Griffin was ranked 41 in save percentage in the nation in the final NCAA statistics released after the soccer championship game.
Griffin posted a 0.838 save percentage and 0.803 goals against average on the season, to assist her team in its best season. Griffin played every minute of the season in the net and made 86 saves. She also earned three straight shutouts and eight total on the season.
“For Ali to be recognized is fantastic,” Head Coach Heather Cairns said. “I’m sure she’s the first one to share that honor with her defense. If it weren’t for them, she might not have those individual stats. The whole season I kept saying, ‘Those five are so good together.’ I think all of them can be excited about that award.”
The Aggie defense held an impressive streak of shutout minutes with 364 straight scoreless minutes. The defensive line was one of the key elements that contributed to the success of the team this season, Cairns said.
“Defense, especially down the stretch, was such that it really gave us an opportunity to win games,” Cairns said.
With two years of play eligibility remaining, Griffin should be an important asset to the team, Cairns said. Griffin is currently second on the USU career saves list, and looks to take over the top spot over the next two seasons.
“Certainly having that milestone is great because she has two more years with us,” Cairns said.
-sethhawkins@cc.usu.edu