Courtesy Westfield State Sports Information

The Westfield State University women's soccer team was one of 17 intercollegiate teams to receive the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Gold Team Ethics Award for completing the entire 2012 season without receiving either a yellow or red card. 

In all, 96 teams received either the Gold, Silver or Bronze version of the Team Ethics Award, which recognizes teams that exhibit fair play, sporting behavior and adherence to the laws of the game, as reflected by the number of yellow caution cards or red ejection cards they are shown by referees throughout the season.

A total of 59 teams claimed the Silver Award, which is given to teams that accumulate no red cards and a maximum of five yellow cards, while the Bronze Award went to 20 teams, which is presented to teams that receive no reds and a maximum of 10 yellows.

The Owls also excelled on the playing field with a brilliant 18-1-1 record and their fourth MASCAC championship and fourth NCAA Tournament beth in the past five years.

"We are extremely proud of the outstanding women's soccer program that coach Todd Ditmar has established at Westfield State University," said Westfield athletics director Richard Lenfest. "In addition, our women's soccer players are model student-athletes as the team finished the 2012 fall semester with an aggregate 3.28 grade point average."