Salve Regina earns national academic award

NEWPORT, R.I. - The Salve Regina University field hockey team has been announced as a recipient of the 2013 Gladiator by SGI/Division III National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Academic Team Award, while 10 Seahawk players were named to the 2013 NFHCA Academic Squad, including sophomore Mary Cain (Montpelier, Vt.), sophomore Alexisse Clinger (Nantucket, Mass.), junior Erin Demers (Concord, N.H.), sophomore Marissa Gagnon (Smithfield, R.I.), freshman Erin Gendreau (Sandwich, Mass.), sophomore Julia Grover (Cotuit, Mass.), freshman Maddie Herman (North Olmsted, Ohio), freshman Kelsey Iwanicki (Granby, Conn.), senior Heather Kapatoes (Hopedale, Mass.), and sophomore Abigail Tepper (Foxboro, Mass.). This marks the seventh consecutive year that the Salve Regina field hockey team has earned this honor.

"To be recognized for the seventh year in a row for the team academic award is a great accomplishment for our program," said Salve Regina head coach Jennifer Foster. "Our players do a wonderful job of balancing the academic and athletic demands here at Salve Regina. The 10 individual players recognized deserve this recognition and are strong examples for our entire team that you can be successful on the field and in the classroom."

In order to be eligible for the individual honors, student-athletes are required to achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher through the first semester of the 2013-14 academic year.

To be recognized for the academic team award, field hockey clubs must compile a combined GPA of at least 3.00 or better during the first semester of the 2013-14 academic year.

The Seahawks were among 118 Division III schools to receive the honor, joining six schools representing the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). The 10 Salve Regina players were among 62 in the league.