PHILADELPHIA - La Salle women's soccer earns its 10^th consecutive National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award by earning an impressive cumulative team GPA of 3.54 during the 2011-12 Academic Year. 
 
The squad's GPA places them first among Atlantic 10 institutions and 18^th out of 320 Division I institutions nationally. 
 
“I'm absolutely amazed by the achievement from our bright student-athletes in the classroom this past year,” said head coach Paul Royal.  “It speaks volumes as to the type of character and intellect our girls possess—they not only had a tremendous season winning our first ever Atlantic 10 Championship, but have reached even greater heights academically.”
 
The team has earned the award in each season of Royal's ten-year tenure at La Salle.
 
“I give a lot of credit to these young ladies for their hard work and dedication in the classroom,” said Royal.  “I've been incredibly lucky to have 2 outstanding assistants in Ally and Melissa, as well as an Academic Support group of Brother John and Christine Cahill who have all worked diligently behind the scenes to make this classroom success a reality. Their efforts in making sure our girls stay on course while setting our expectations very high is what makes this achievement possible.”
 
A total of 723 college soccer teams (221 men, 502 women), including teams from all Divisions, posted a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher, thereby earning the NSCAA Team Academic Award for the 2011-12 academic year.  Of the 723 teams honored, La Salle's 3.59 GPA placed them 34^th overall.