Team collects Division II National Academic Team Award

NFHCA Division II National Academic Team Award
NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad

RINDGE, N.H. (March 3, 2009) – Freshmen goalkeepers Rachel Baxter (Cumberland, R.I./Cumberland) and Kristin Tormollan (Waterville, Maine/Waterville); freshmen forwards Danielle Dolan (West Brookfield, Mass./Quaboag Regional), Tia Levins (Manchester, Maine/Maranacook Comm.) and Lauren L’Heureux (Sanford, Maine/Sanford); sophomore forward Ashley Moirano (Vero Beach, Fla./South Burlington (Vt.)); junior midfielder Samantha Newman (Belgrade, Maine/Messalonskee); senior forward Jennifer Provencher (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth); and freshman midfielder Kaitlyn Taylor (Marblehead, Mass./Marblehead) 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 Monday 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.

Last week, Franklin Pierce was one of 18 teams selected as recipients of the NFHCA Division II National Academic Team Award. To receive the award, teams were required to post a 3.0 grade-point average or higher in the fall semester. The Ravens posted a 3.11 grade-point average last semester.

Baxter posted a 3.36 grade-point average in the fall and is majoring in both business management and psychology. In limited action on the field, she stopped the only shot she faced in net this season. Baxter will also play softball this spring for Franklin Pierce.

Dolan has amassed a 3.44 grade-point average and plans to major in either psychology or social work and counseling. She started all 20 games this fall for the Ravens en route to landing on the Northeast-10 Conference All-Rookie Team. Dolan tied for the team lead with five goals and tied for third on the squad with 10 points. On Oct. 7, she became the first Franklin Pierce player in over two years to be honored by womensfieldhockey.com when she garnered Division II Rookie of the Week honors. A day earlier, Dolan had been selected Northeast-10 Conference Freshman of the Week.

Levins has put together a 3.66 grade-point average as a business management major. She played in 10 games as a reserve for the Ravens this fall and took four shots, including one shot on goal.

L’Heureux posted a 3.38 grade-point average in her first semester at Franklin Pierce as a biology major. She played in 15 games for the Ravens this season and earned three starts along the way. L’Heureux finished the season with five shots, including two shots on goal.

Moirano has put together a 3.32 grade-point average as a marketing major over three semesters as a Raven. She played in 13 games this fall, including eight starts and finished tied for the team lead with five goals and ranked second in scoring, with 13 points. Three times during the season, Moirano was selected to the Northeast-10 Conference Weekly Honor Roll.

Newman has posted a 3.74 grade-point average and is in her third year as an elementary education major in Rindge. A presence in the backfield, she has started every game of her Franklin Pierce career, including all 20 this season. Newman collected a single shot on goal this fall and is a National Academic Squad selection for the third consecutive year.

Provencher has amassed a 3.46 grade-point average as an environmental science major. She wrapped up her career as a Raven this season with 10 appearances, including six starts, and recorded one shot. Provencher has now received academic honors from the NFHCA in each of her four years at Franklin Pierce.

Taylor posted a 3.65 grade-point average in her first semester as a mass communications major. She played in one game for the Ravens as a reserve this season and recorded two shots on goal.

Tormollan led the way for the Ravens with a 3.92 grade-point average in her first semester as a mass communications major. She led Franklin Pierce on the field as well, as she enjoyed a standout freshman campaign which concluded with Goalkeeper of the Year, First-Team All-Conference and All-Rookie Team accolades from the Northeast-10 Conference. Tormollan established new single-season Franklin Pierce records for both games played and started by a goalkeeper (20), as well as minutes played by a goalkeeper (1414). She posted a 7-13 record and finished eighth in the nation with a 2.13 goals-against average. In addition, Tormollan ranked fourth in the Northeast-10 Conference in saves (126), fifth in goals-against average, sixth in save percentage (.746), seventh in saves per game (6.30) and tied for seventh in shutouts (2). She was named Northeast-10 Conference Freshman of the Week on Sept. 8 and was named to the conference’s Weekly Honor Roll on four occasions.

The Ravens finished the 2008 campaign with a 7-13 record, including a 7-11 mark in Northeast-10 Conference play. Franklin Pierce finished sixth in the conference, earning its third postseason appearance since joining the conference for the 2000 season.