; Whereas this championship follows 3 seasons with Dan Stratford as an assistant coach, in which the Golden Eagles reached 3 consecutive NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Final Four tournaments and appeared in 2 National Championship games; Whereas Thomas Vancaeyezeele became just the second athlete in the history of the Golden Eagles to be named National Player of the Year after leading the University of Charleston men's soccer team to the national championship, anchoring a defense that allowed just 8 goals in the 2017 season and trailed just twice in 24 matches; Whereas the University of Charleston men's soccer team started the 2017 season with 15 consecutive wins, cruising to their fourth straight Mountain East Conference regular season title and fourth straight NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Atlantic Region title, losing just one match all season; Whereas Paulo Pita, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Patrick Guier, Will Roberts, Kieran Bywater, and Armando Tikvic were all named as All-American players; Whereas the coaching staff of the University of Charleston men's soccer team was named the United Soccer Coaches National Staff of the Year for NCAA Division II Men's Soccer; and Whereas the University of Charleston men’s soccer team should be praised for the historic season of both athletic and academic accomplishments: Now, therefore, be it