Three Ferris State Soccer Performers Tabbed As United Soccer Coaches Player Award Of Distinction Honorees

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Big Rapids, Mich. - A trio of Ferris State University women's soccer standouts have earned recognition as 2021 United Soccer Coaches College Player Award of Distinction recipients as announced by the national coaches organization.

FSU senior midfielders Bri Rogers (Livonia/Ladywood) and Abigail Gilmore (Lansing/Catholic) along with senior defender Stephanie Scafaria (Kalamazoo/Portage Northern) all claimed the honors for NCAA Division II women's soccer for the recently completed spring 2021 season. 

Overall, they were among only 325 women's players at any college level, including NCAA Divisions I, II and III along with NAIA, NCCAA and Junior College schools, to earn the honor.

The United Soccer Coaches organization remains committed to extending opportunities for its college members to recognize their significant players and contributions to their programs. 

The new College Player Award of Distinction was established this spring for its member head coaches to submit deserving players based on one or more of the following criteria - the player has achieved quality performance on the field; represented the highest ideals of team leadership; exhibited quality character attributes including sportsmanship and respect for teammates, opponents, officials and the game in general; and made other significant contributions to the benefit of the program and the community.

Overall, only a total of 60 student-athletes from an NCAA Division II school were honored with the prestigious award. No other student-athlete from a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) school was honored outside of the Bulldogs' three recipients.

Together, the trio helped the Bulldogs win the school's first-ever GLIAC Championship this spring. The Bulldogs, who were ranked as high as #11 in the country this spring, concluded the year with an 8-1-1 overall record.

Along with winning the GLIAC's regular season championship, FSU also played host to the GLIAC Semifinals/Finals for the first time in program history this spring. Ferris State allowed only two goals over the course of the entire campaign, including only one during regular season action when FSU compiled an 8-0-1 mark as the league's only unbeaten squad.