KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the second time this season the Salem soccer program was recognized by the United Soccer Coaches.

After receiving the United Soccer Coaches Association Team Academic Award in August, the Spirits were named among the 2023 College Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award recipients. Salem was one of 25 teams to receive Silver status, after receiving between 11 and 30 percent of cards during the course of the 2023 season.

In all, 42 men's and women's teams received either the Gold, Silver or Bronze version of the College Team Ethics and Sportsmanship 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 based on the number of cards accumulated divided by the number of games played (i.e., 5 cards divided by 20 games played is 0.25 or 25%, which qualifies for a Silver Award).

Four teams were recipients of the Gold Award, which is given to teams with a percentage of cards ranging from 1-10%. A total of 25 teams claimed the Silver Award, which is given to teams that accumulate a percentage of cards ranging from 11-30%, while the Bronze Award went to 13 teams, which is presented to teams that accumulate a percentage of cards ranging from 31-50%.

Since the conclusion of the 2023 regular season, Salem soccer has received six accolades from varying entities. Those honors include two from the USA South (Darilyn Nieto-First Team All-Conference / Sky Sykes-All-Sportsmanship Team) and three from the College Sports Communicators (Academic All-District—Nathaly Berrezueta, Layla Locklear, Isabel Scott).