Union College's Men's and Women's Soccer Programs Were Recognized by

Why the double matters

The benchmark is not trivial.

• Each team reportedly needed a collective GPA of at least 3.0.
• Union’s women are said to have posted 3.60.
• Union’s men reportedly reached 3.20.

That kind of consistency matters in college soccer, where roster turnover, travel and short competitive windows can test any squad’s focus. For a school to place both programs on the list in the same academic year points to a stable culture, not a one-off spike.

Women’s side backs it up again

The women’s program appears to be the clearest example of that stability. The report says the team earned the award for a sixth straight season and for the eighth time in program history under head coach Karen Perron.

The classroom standards were matched by visible competitive progress:

• 16 players reportedly made the Liberty League Fall All-Academic Team.
• Four players earned All-Liberty League recognition.
• The team returned to the postseason for the first time since 2021.
• It also reached nine wins for the third time in five seasons.

Men’s program shows real momentum

The men’s team may have the most intriguing upward curve. The report says this was only the program’s second academic award and its first since 2020, suggesting a meaningful step forward.

On the pitch, the gains also looked substantial:

• 11 players reportedly made the Liberty League All-Academic Team.
• Under first-year coach John Ciano, Union produced its best season in more than a decade.
• The Garnet Chargers reportedly reached the Liberty League Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2015.

The next storyline is obvious: whether Union can turn this into a lasting identity. If both programs carry these standards into the next season, the conversation will move from a strong year to a sustainable model.