Gophers Receive Several NFHCA Academic Awards

GLEN ALLEN, Va. — The National Field Hockey Coaches Association has released its individual and team academic honors for the 2014 season, with Goucher featured on each of the three award lists.

Celia Welch (Arlington, Mass./Arlington) repeated as a Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA Collegiate Scholar of Distinction, and she joined 12 other Gophers on the National Academic Squad. The entire program, meanwhile, earned the National Team Academic award for achieving a team grade-point average over 3.0 during the fall semester.

Welch was one of seven Landmark athletes to be named a Scholar of Distinction, a prestigious honor handed out to those who hold a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or higher. The full Scholars of Distinction list can be accessed here.

Eight of the 13 National Academic Squad members for the Gophers were repeat honorees. Justine Ruhlin (Cornish, Maine/Sacopee Valley) was one of 12 athletes within the Landmark to be recognized all four years in which she was eligible. Placement on the squad is given to all who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher. The full list of Goucher student-athletes on the list is available below, and the list in its entirety can be seen here.

The Gophers finished with a team GPA of 3.27 last fall to earn another National Team Academic award. Goucher's field hockey program has achieved a GPA over 3.0 in every semester dating back to the fall of 1999.

With a 9-7 record in 2014, the Gophers had their most successful season since 1995 during Megan Williams third year as head coach.

Goucher National Academic Squad Members

Lizzie Barminski
Shannara Bauer
Annie Carter
Sarah Cost
Olivia Dickert
Emily Gill
Danielle Hallacker
Demie Huffman
Emily Jewell
Caroline Less
Justine Ruhlin
Celia Welch
Liz Zengel