SRU field hockey team scores big in classroom

March 23, 2016

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University field hockey team grabbed a share of the nation's top spot with 19 student-athletes named to the 2015 Division II National Academic Squad released March 22 by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association and Zag Sports. SRU shares the honor with Limestone College, located in Gaffney, South Carolina.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that SRU has placed in the top two of total number of student-athletes on the NAS in Division II. A perennial leader, SRU led the nation with 20 student-athletes in 2012 and 21 in 2013 before finishing second (20) in 2014.

In order to receive the honor, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or above through the fall semester.

Highlighting the list of honorees were seniors Carlee DuMars from Frederick, Maryland and Courtney Bradshaw from Telford, who were named to the team for the fourth consecutive year.

The NAS honor follows on the heels of the March 21 announcement that the team was named as a National Academic Team Award winner with the third highest collective GPA (3.46) in the nation among Division II institutions. It was the seventh consecutive season that SRU has finished in the top five of cumulative GPA.

Kutztown ranked first nationally with a GPA of 3.54, followed by Adelphi University (Garden City, New York) at 3.53. SRU and Mansfield tied at 3.46, while East Stroudsburg rounded out the top five at 3.45.

In order to earn the NFHCA Academic Team Award, a field hockey program must own a collective team GPA of 3.0 above after the fall semester. A total of 27 teams earned the award this year.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jon Holtz | 724.738.4925 | jonathan.holtz@sru.edu