KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As part of its annual awards day, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced its honorees for various student-athlete, institutional, administrator and team accolades on Tuesday morning. Along with a plethora of NAIA Scholar Team nods, the Montreat College athletic department saw its women’s soccer team seize an even bigger recognition: the 2025-26 Bruce Brown CCA Team of Character Award.
The Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) awards its Champions of Character honors annually to one men’s and one women’s program for their exemplary character on the field, on campus and in the community. The Montreat College women’s soccer squad, who captured the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women’s Team of Character accolade earlier this summer, was chosen by the CCA to represent all NAIA women’s programs as a shining example of respect, responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and servant leadership in 2025-26.
Women’s soccer is the first female team and the second program overall in Montreat College history to be recognized with a national Champions of Character Team Award, joining the men’s cross country squad that took home the 2017-18 Buffalo Funds Five-Star Champions of Character honor.
“This is a group of women whose character flows out of an awareness of their identities as followers of Jesus,” said Head Coach Kristin Eggert. “His light is shining through them as they bow to Him as Lord and Savior. The glory belongs to the Lord, and His image shines all the brighter as these women have said yes to His process of transformation.”
Showcasing excellence in competition, academics, faith and service, the Montreat College women’s soccer team earned the Bruce Brown CCA Team of Character Award. On the field, the Cavaliers enjoyed a successful campaign, recording eight wins overall and six in league play, which proved good enough to host one of the opening matches of the AAC Tournament. Montreat defeated Spartanburg Methodist College on home turf, advancing to the quarterfinal round of the conference bracket in the process. Individually, Sam Aalbue secured AAC Offensive Player of the Week and Second Team All-AAC honors over the course of the season.
While the Cavs’ competitive success was evident, their greatest impact came beyond the scoreboard.
Following home matches, several Montreat women’s soccer student-athletes intentionally shared their faith and spoke about the ways the Lord had shown up in their own lives. Those genuine conversations of young women pouring into each other created meaningful connections between Cavaliers and opposing student-athletes, particularly with those who were navigating similar challenges.
The Cavs also thrived in the classroom, posting a 3.75 team GPA, the highest among all Montreat College NAIA varsity programs during the 2025-26 academic year. Recognition followed that excellence, with six individuals earning spots on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Team, 17 landing NAIA Scholar-Athlete status and 18 corralling AAC All-Academic Team honors.
Maintaining a presence on campus and in the community, numerous women’s soccer student-athletes served in a variety of leadership roles, from resident assistants to Wilson Scholars to admissions ambassadors. The Cavaliers performed important acts of service following Hurricane Helene as well, with several players coming back in the storm’s aftermath to help distribute meals throughout the community. While team service projects have always been a key part of the program under Eggert, the individual initiative demonstrated by the student-athletes further reflected the team’s overall commitment to serving others.
From living out the NAIA’s five core values to competing on the pitch, the Montreat College women’s soccer program set itself apart from the rest, earning the 2025-26 Bruce Brown CCA Team of Character Award.
“What a great honor for our women’s soccer program,” said Garrett Jones, Director of Athletics. “We are incredibly aligned with the NAIA and their Champions of Character initiative. I’m grateful to Coach Eggert, her staff and her student-athletes for their continued pursuit of excellence in this area. This honor is well deserved.”
To see all the NAIA Awards Day winners and honorees, click here.