MARION, Ind. -- The Indiana Wesleyan University women's soccer team was recognized as a NAIA Champion of Character and was presented with the Buffalo Funds Five Star Award.

The NAIA acknowledges one team from each of the 23 championship sports with the Five Star Award. According to the NAIA, teams that receive this prestigious award demonstrate in every day decisions respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. These institutions and athletic programs strive for excellence in and out of competition and are part of communities throughout the country dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics.

Said senior forward Becca Mathews said, "Character is so important to incorporate because character is what lasts. People won't remember how many goals I score of how many times the team made it to national championship play. We understand as a team that soccer is a temporary game but our character is what makes a lasting impression."

The entire team took the NAIA student-athlete pledge this year and honor commitments to each other as well as the institution as they strive to be campus leaders.

"Our team would like to thank Buffalo Funds for sponsoring this award and the NAIA for implementing the Champions of Character Award," said Indiana Wesleyan head coach Dr. John Bratcher.

"I am extremely proud of our players for their successful season on the field and for their endeavors to meet the five core values of the Champions of Character program that resulted in IWU women's soccer being selected for this great honor," Bratcher said.

On the field this season, the Wildcats earned a 14-3-1 record and a trip to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. Indiana Wesleyan also won the Mid-Central College Conference Tournament which increases their streak to 11 straight seasons of winning the MCC regular season or tournament title.

The team is also a winner off the field and is known to serve the Indiana Wesleyan and Marion communities.

Said Indiana Wesleyan Champions of Character representative Aly Williams: "These girls are constantly involved in campus leadership and student activities. They have really took the initiative to be world changers out of the love of their heart. The team truly shows a desire to serve the Indiana Wesleyan campus and the Marion community."

Twenty members of the team donated over 80 hours of work to Habitat for Humanity as they took a day off of preseason conditioning to help a local family in need by working on their house. The team painted walls, trimmed, caulked, built shelves for the closets, painted a porch and worked on the lawn.

"The girls were very excited to help this family," Bratcher said. "They feel like they were able to make a difference in somebody's life and want the opportunity to help in the community again. It was a great experience for our team."

Besides being winners on the field of competition and stewards in the community, the women's soccer team has also made an impact at Indiana Wesleyan and the Marion community with their faith.

"We are so proud of Coach Bratcher and the women's soccer team," said Indiana Wesleyan Athletic Director Mark DeMichael. "They exemplify what we want Indiana Wesleyan athletics to be about. Our goal is to include athletic excellence, academic achievement and spiritual and leadership development. This award shows our women's soccer team has been able to achieve all these things."