NEW HAVEN, Conn. (November 6, 2026) – Pontus Schmitz Gustafsson, a senior at the University of Bridgeport, is the winner of the 2026 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Men’s Soccer Championship Scholar Award, CACC Commissioner Dan Mara announced today. Mara also released that Kyra Lesko, a senior at Thomas Jefferson University, is the recipient of this year’s CACC Women’s Soccer Championship Scholar Award.

The CACC Championship Scholar Award (formerly Top XVI) is presented in each of the conference’s NCAA championship sports to the student-athlete at the finals site with the highest cumulative undergraduate grade-point average and at least 48 credits earned at his/her current institution. The student-athlete must be a member of the active roster and be competing at the finals site.

Schmitz Gustafsson, of Stockholm, Sweden, maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA at Bridgeport while majoring in finance. Lesko, of Pennsburg, Pa., is majoring in pre-medical studies at Jefferson and also possesses a 4.00 GPA. Lesko was named a First-Team All-CACC honoree at forward earlier this week.

Wilmington University is hosting the 2026 CACC Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championship finals on Saturday in Newark, Del. For tournament information, visit the CACC Championship Central web pages for the MEN and WOMEN.

 

Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 21 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 18 sports – seven for men, 10 for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 11 full members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.