KANSAS City, Mo. -- Led by head coach Joe Vari, the Bates women's soccer team was honored by the United Soccer Coaches on Friday as a College Team Academic Award winner. 

A total of 697 soccer teams (414 women, 283 men) posted a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher, thereby earning the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the 2024-25 academic year. The Bobcats achieved a team GPA of 3.76, tied for the 34th-highest GPA in the country among women's soccer teams. 

Bates is one of just 151 schools that had both their women's and men's programs recognized.

The Bobcats open their 2025 campaign on Wednesday, September 3rd when they visit Husson for a match that gets underway at 7 p.m. Bates hosts Thomas College on Russell Street Field for their home opener, set for Wednesday, September 10th at 7 p.m.