Soccer Receives Recognition From NCAA For APR Scores
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
The Oregon women's soccer team received public recognition Wednesday from the NCAA for its performance in the classroom.
The Ducks posted perfect scores in the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate for 2013-14 in both eligibility/graduation and retention, giving the program a multiyear APR of 999 for 2010-2014. That put second-year coach Kat Mertz's program in the top 10 percent of the country for women's soccer, earning Wednesday's public recognition from the NCAA.
"Our goal for the program is to recruit players who strive to be great in the classroom and on the field," Mertz said. "The University of Oregon prides itself on the educational experience available to student-athletes, so this is an honor."
The full APR report for the 2013-14 academic year will be released May 27.
Mertz's team went 7-10-2 last fall, with wins over Washington and Oregon State. The Ducks posted the third-lowest goals-against average in school history, 1.04, and their RPI of No. 74 was the program's best since 2009.
Among the team's exceptional students are pre-health major Caitlyn Wong, who has accumulated a 4.01 GPA while studying biochemistry and in the UO's Robert D. Clark Honors College. She's one of two students from the soccer team in the Honors College, along with Madison Wiegand-Brown.
A third defender for the Ducks, Kelsey Foo, has a 3.59 GPA in product design and commuted to Portland last summer for an internship with Nike. Digital arts major Lilly Archer has a 3.79 GPA.
Jennifer Jackson, the Jaqua Center academic advisor who works with the soccer program, said the diversity of majors among the students on the team is notable. "They make my job pretty easy," Jackson said.
Women's soccer is the 13th program from the UO athletic department over the last 10 years to receive public recognition for being in the top 10 percent of NCAA teams in its sport.
