KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Belmont Abbey's Women Soccer has been named one of 10 collegiate programs to earn the United Soccer Coaches Pinnacle Award, the organization announced recently. In its eighth year, the Team Pinnacle Award honors teams that have achieved a high level of fair play, educational excellence, and success on the pitch.

Additionally, 43 high school teams across the country were recognized.

To be considered for the collegiate award, teams must have received either the Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze version of the Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award (less than three yellow cards and no red cards); achieved recognition in the classroom as a recipient of the Team Academic Award (GPA of 3.40 or higher); and recorded a winning percentage of .750 or higher during the respective season.

"How we play matters to us," Head Coach Mike Lynch shared after achieving the criteria to be recognized as a 2026 United Soccer Coaches Team Pinnacle Award. "Our vision is to be a Christ-centered college of choice for premier soccer student-athletes who desire the relentless pursuit of excellence, on and off the field, '... so that in all things God may be glorified.'" (1 Peter 4:11, Mission of Belmont Abbey College). Faith, Family, School, then soccer, then everything else is how we try to order our days, our lives."

This is the second time Belmont Abbey achieved the Pinnacle Award, the last time coming in 2019.