The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women’s soccer team has been rewarded for their fair play during the 2019 season by United Soccer Coaches. On Friday, the Panthers received a platinum level Ethics & Sportsmanship.
Each year, collegiate teams are recognized by the association for exhibiting fair play, sporting behavior and adherence to the laws of the game. The award is distributed at four different levels, which are based on a percentage of the number of cards received by players and coaches per game played.
The Panthers were one of five collegiate teams to receive a platinum level award which signifies that they played their entire season without a player or coach receiving a yellow or red card throughout the season. Women’s teams from Eastern Mennonite University, Los Angeles Harbor College, the University of New Haven and Sweet Briar College were the other teams to receive platinum awards.
Head Women’s Soccer Coach Melissa Graham said, “I am so proud of this team and this great accomplishment. We had a young team this season and I was so impressed with their level of maturity and integrity. We had great leadership from our captains, Emily Bethel and Katie Anderton, who helped establish and carry out our team covenant which helped develop and mold character within our team.”
Athletic Director Bret Butler added, “I am very proud of Coach Graham and her athletes. This kind of award goes beyond the X’s and O’s; it cuts right to the culture of the program she is cultivating. Congratulations to the entire women’s soccer program!”
The Panthers and Coach Graham, along with the other platinum level winners, will be formally acknowledged at the College Coaches Awards Reception on Thursday, January, 16th. The reception is held in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Convention, held in Baltimore, Md.