Two named Scholars of Distinction

NFHCA National Academic Squad (PDF)
NFHCA Scholars of Distinction (PDF)

RINDGE, N.H. (May 28, 2015) – Junior back Natalia Bachelder (South Berwick, Maine), junior midfielder Chelsey Burnell (West Baldwin, Maine), sophomore back Morgan Caisse (Westminster, Mass.), freshman forward Carly Canavan (Kingston, N.Y.), sophomore forward Francesca Cartee (Rindge, N.H.), sophomore forward Rachel Deneault (Holden, Mass.), freshman midfielder Lauren Grimard (Turners Falls, Mass.), freshman midfielder Danielle Harris (Templeton, Mass.), sophomore back Shannon O'Leary (Florence, Mass.) and freshman midfielder Erin Smith (Templeton, Mass.) of the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team have all been named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division II National Academic Squad, as announced earlier this spring by the NFHCA.

To be eligible for selection, a student-athlete must have posted a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or higher through the fall semester. In addition, Burnell and Canavan were named as Scholars of Distinction by the NFHCA. This is the second year of the Scholars of Distinction program, which recognizes student-athletes carrying GPAs of 3.90 or higher. Franklin Pierce has now had seven Scholar of Distinction selections over the two seasons the NFHCA has recognized them.

The 10 individual selections to the National Academic Squad matched the program's high-water mark for the third time, as 10 Ravens were also honored after the 2003 and 2013 seasons. It also matches the highest total under head coach Meighan Allison, whose has also had nine players honored on two occasions as well.

Franklin Pierce has now had 109 selections to the NFHCA National Academic Squad, all since 2000, an average of 7.27 student-athletes per season over the last 15 years. Burnell has earned her third selection to the National Academic Squad in as many years on campus and could become the 12th Franklin Pierce player to be a four-year honoree next year. Meanwhile, Caisse, Cartee, Deneault and O'Leary have each earned their second selection in as many years. The remaining five student-athletes were all first-time honorees for the Ravens, who have now had 55 different players honored under the National Academic Squad program.

Bachelder, a health sciences major, started all 18 games on the backline for the Ravens and has started every game over her first three seasons. This fall, she attempted 14 shots, including three on goal.

Burnell, who carries a 3.91 grade-point average (all GPAs through spring 2015 semester) as a graphic communications major, posted a new career high for offensive output in 2014 after playing in all 18 games, including 12 starts. She finished fourth on the team in scoring with seven points on three goals and one assist. Burnell attempted 14 shots along the way, including 10 on goal.

Caisse, who has 3.79 GPA as a health sciences major, played in six games as a backline reserve for Franklin Pierce this fall.

Canavan put together a 4.00 grade-point average in her first year on campus, had the most impressive offensive season by a freshman in program history. She finished third among Northeast-10 Conference freshmen in scoring with 22 points on 10 goals and two assists. Canavan was the sixth player in program history to tally 10 goals in a season, and the first to do so prior to her junior campaign. The 22 points was also the highest total among freshmen in program history. For her efforts, Canavan came away with Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team honors.

Cartee sports a 3.82 grade-point average as a health sciences major, but did not play this fall due to injury.

Deneault is an accounting/finance major with a 3.52 GPA and also faced an injury-troubled sophomore year. She appeared in just three games as a reserve forward for the Ravens this fall.

Grimard saw action in 10 games, including seven starts, on the backline for Franklin Pierce. She attempted one shot along the way.

Harris posted a 3.60 GPA in her first year on campus and appeared in five games as a midfield reserve for the crimson and grey.

O'Leary, who has a 3.36 GPA, started in all 18 games for the Ravens, primarily on the backline, with some time in the midfield as well. She finished the season with five points on two goals and one assist and tied for the team lead with four defensive saves. O'Leary contributed one game-winning goal and attempted seven shots, including six on goal.

Smith, who sports a 3.80 grade-point average through one year on campus, played in 10 games as a reserve up front for the Ravens. Along the way, she attempted seven shots, including five on goal.

The Ravens put together a bounce-back season in 2014, as they posted an 8-10 (5-4 Northeast-10) record to finish in a three-way tie for seventh in the Northeast-10. Following back-to-back three-win campaigns, Franklin Pierce missed a return to the postseason by just one game and is expected to return three of its four leading scorers in 2015.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce field hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).