KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- United Soccer Coaches announced their College Team Academic Award winners for the 2021-22 academic year, and both men's and women's teams at UC Irvine were recognized in the same class for the first team.

A total of 783 soccer teams (295 men, 488 women) posted a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher, thereby earning the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the 2021-22 academic year. Of that total, 145 schools had both their men's and women's programs recognized, and UC Irvine is joined by UC Riverside as the only Big West squads to claim that.

UC Irvine men's soccer made the cut for the very first time in 2021 and now have received the honor in consecutive years. UC Irvine women's soccer earned the award for an eighth instance all-time.

Soccer season is approaching for the 2022 season with each playing exhibition matches prior to the season opener on August 18 for women's soccer and August 25 for men's soccer.