KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire women's soccer team recently received a number of awards from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

As a team, the Blugolds were honored with an academic award and an ethics awards.

A total of 445 women's teams from around the country were recognized for finishing with a team GPA of 3.0 or better during the 2009-10 school year. The Blugolds achieved a 3.39 GPA last year.

The Blugolds were also one of 48 teams from around the country to earn a silver ethics award. The silver award went to teams with five or fewer yellow cards and no red cards during the course of the year.

Individually, two Blugolds were honored with two different awards, All-North Region and Scholar All-Central Region. The two Blugolds winning both awards were Megan Hillesheim (Sr.-Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) and Rachel Nerison (Jr.-Maple Grove, Minn.). 

Hillesheim was a second team selection for both awards. She started all 21 games and was part of a defensive unit that averaged just .90 goals allowed each game, second best in the conference. In addition, she tallied a goal and an assist of her own.

Nerison was a third team pick for both awards. She started in all 21 of the Blugolds' games and led the team in scoring with nine goals and five assists. Her five game-winning goals were also the most of any player in the WIAC.