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Samantha Roth ’20 says it feels like family being a part of the .

A forward majoring in business management, she says she was very proud when she found out the team had been recognized by the with a .

"As a student-athlete, this award means a lot to me because I believe it reflects who we are as a team and our strong mentality," she said. "We knew the only way to get results and to step off the field knowing we had given it our all was by playing our game with sportsmanship."

"The leadership and communication skills I have gained have made me a better student, teammate, and friend."Samantha Roth ’20

The Chargers were one of only five teams in the country to receive the platinum award, which recognizes high school and collegiate soccer programs that exhibit fair play, good behavior, and adherence to the rules of the game.

, the team’s head coach who is celebrating ten years at the University this academic year, says that as a coach, the honor reflects the student-athletes’ toughness and respect for the sport.

"This award highlights the type of students that the University of New 51¶ºÄÌ attracts," she said. "Our women’s soccer student-athletes carry the responsibility of who they represent on campus, in the classroom, in the community, and on to the playing field."

Only about 100 teams across the country received Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Awards, which are presented at four levels. The platinum level recognizes teams – such as the Chargers – that played an entire season without a player or coach receiving a yellow or red card penalty. Teams recognized at the gold, silver, and bronze levels were honored based on a percentage calculated by the total number of cards players and coaches received divided by the total number of games played.

"I am very excited that the hard work we have put in as a team has been recognized," said Paige Davis ’21, a goalkeeper majoring in biology. "I believe this award shows that Coach Duncan and the rest of the coaching staff teaches us to always show sportsmanship. They have instilled in us that hard work, respect, and dedication pay off."

The Chargers were the only team from the recognized at the platinum or gold levels.

For Roth, the team’s second-leading scorer, the skills she developed as a member of the team have helped her reach her goals – on and off the field.

"I am grateful to be on this team – not only as an athlete, but, also, as a leader," she said. "The leadership and communication skills I have gained have made me a better student, teammate, and friend. These girls are my family, and I step onto the field not only representing the University, but my teammates as well."