March 5, 2013

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Ten Saint Joseph's field hockey players were honored by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association for their work in the classroom as part of the 2012 Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad. The Hawks were also recipients of the National Academic Team Award.

Senior Meghan Githens was named a Scholar of Distinction, an award given to student-athletes whose cumulative grade point average exceeds 3.90 for their collegiate career.

Earning National Academic Squad accolades for the fourth consecutive season were seniors Githens and Abby Hoover while sophomores Lauren Brands, Megan DeMarco, Nicole Gerdes, Jordan Martin and Katie Walsh were tabbed for the second time in as many years.

Juniors Shannon McNeill and Kate Mitchell and freshman Mia Tomkins also received their first career NFHCA nods.

As a team, Saint Joseph's was also honored with the National Academic Team Award. The award is given to programs with a team grade-point average over 3.0. This year, SJU was one of 70 Division I programs to achieve that mark.