MONMOUTH, IL (01/03/2020) Monmouth College’s women’s soccer team not only earned a program-record 14 wins last fall, but the team did so while earning the United Soccer Coaches’ Silver Level Team Ethics and Sportsmanship award.
The recognition to honor teams which exhibit fair play, sporting behavior and adherence to the rules of the game is awarded in four levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. The various levels are determined by a formula that calculates the percentage of total red and yellow cards received by the team’s players and coaches, divided by the total number of games played. The Fighting Scots received just four cards – all yellow – in their 21 games (.190). Platinum level teams earned no cards during the fall season.
“I truly believe that this award speaks volumes to how our players conduct themselves on the field,” said head coach Nick Rizzo, who just completed his fourth season at Monmouth. “We are a team that takes pride in both how we treat the opposing team as well as how we treat the referees. I think we have found the balance of how to be a physical team and make the game difficult, without losing respect for the game and how it is played. Based on how our players treat each other within our own training sessions, I feel that this award shows a strong reflection of what our team is like every day.”
The Scots won the Midwest Conference Tournament title in a shootout over Knox to earn the league’s automatic NCAA berth – both firsts for the program.
*Courtesy of Monmouth College*
