Men's Soccer excels in classroom during 2018 campaign, sets new academic team records

By Blake Moore

ADA — The Ohio Northern men's soccer team continued to demonstrate the program's storied tradition of success in the classroom during the 2018 campaign under 21st-year head coach Brent Ridenour, establishing new academic records for the program this season.

With a conference-record 70 players on the 2018 roster, the program posted its third-highest team GPA for the fall academic semester in school history with a 3.42 grade point average. The outstanding academic performance follows the 2017-18 school year in which the program topped the Ohio Athletic Conference with the highest team grade point average for the entire academic year.

In addition, 28 players were honored on the fall semester Dean's List and 14 student-athletes earned 4.00 grade point averages during the semester, both setting new program standards. This marks the 10th successive season that the ONU men's soccer team has had five-or-more players post perfect grade point averages during the competitive season.

Due to their efforts, the team garnered the National Team Academic Award for the 10th straight year, which sets a new record for consecutive academic honors among the Ohio Athletic Conference.

On the field, Northern also saw success that included a 13-7-2 overall record, the 13th successive winning season in program history. The Orange and Black went on to finish 4-5 in league play and end fifth within the conference standings to qualify for the OAC Tournament. The Polar Bears would make a spectacular postseason run in the conference tournament, reaching the OAC Tournament Finals for the 11th time in school history before falling in extra penalty kicks (5-4) to league champion John Carroll.