3.0 here we go

For the fifth straight season, the Winthrop men’s and women’s soccer programs have both been recognized by the United Soccer Coaches organization for academic excellence. In order to be qualified for this prestigious honor, the team must have an average GPA of at least a 3.0 or higher. Of the 992 schools that received the award, Winthrop was among the 258 schools that recognized both their men’s and women’s teams, and one of only three schools in the Big South Conference.

Some of the men’s soccer players shared what this award meant to them, including senior Andres Carvajal.

“For me it means that we are not a team that just works hard and with passion on the field but also at everything we do,” Carvajal said.

Conor Maher, senior, gave credit to the coaches for this achievement.

“This is something that the whole team has been focusing on,” Maher said. “Our coaches constantly emphasize the importance of the student part of being a student-athlete so it’s good to see everyone’s hard work paying off. We aim to continue to work hard as a team to be successful on and off the pitch.” 

Players from the women’s soccer team shared their thoughts on receiving the academic award as well.

“This shows how dedicated our teams are on and off the field. It’s not always easy to balance school while being in season, so it’s awesome to see that both teams were able to do so,” Megan Loveland, junior, said. 

“I think this means a lot to not only our team and coaches with the athletic program, it proves that we take our sport seriously but more importantly, we are student athletes and student comes before athletes,” Greta Conboy, senior, said. “We are always making sure that we are representing the department strong and that we take all aspects of life seriously. I’m super proud of the girls and the effort that they put in off the field.”

Of course, gaining this type of achievement doesn’t come easy; in fact, each of the players had to work hard on and off the field to make this possible. They shared a few skills that they gained to help keep them focused.

“Being both a student and an athlete is not easy, but I think that time management, stress management and productivity are the key skills that help me accomplish my goals,” Carvajal said. 

“Time management is key,” Loveland said. “You have to stay organized, plan ahead, and make time to study each day.”

“Being a student athlete takes a lot of responsibilities and making sure that your time management is on another level,” Conboy said. “It’s having to schedule workouts, practice, traveling, meetings, classes, study hall, group projects, and even some of us having part time jobs. It’s more than completing assignments the morning before they’re due, it’s studying for midterms at two in the morning when you’re on the bus after a hard loss and then having to get up for an 8 a.m. class.”

“But at the end of the day it’s all worth it to play the sport at a Division I level with 28 girls that always have your back,” Conboy said.

“Time management is very important when you’re balancing sports and athletics,” Maher said. “We have to use the little free time that we have wisely.”

This is the tenth consecutive year that the men’s and women’s soccer teams have been recognized. The men’s team has also had this achievement in 2007 and 2008. Each of the players have a common goal; they want to keep their streak going and shared how they plan to do so. 

“I will prepare to keep up the good work by having the same motivation and determination I’ve had the last [few] years and by always trying to improve myself,” Carvajal said. 

“I will just stay focused on what I came here to do, get an education and play soccer,” Loveland said.

“I think the values that are coaches instill in us will continue to propel us in the future,” Conboy said. “We know that in four years time, soccer will most likely not be a big factor in our lives anymore, but the education, relationships and networking,that will last us a lifetime. Go Eagles!” 

The men’s and women’s soccer team will be celebrating their seniors on senior night, as the women’s team faces USC Upstate at 1 p.m. at Eagle Field and the men’s team faces Presbyterian College at 5 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 26.

Photo: Tate Walden/ The Johnsonian