Team Collects Division II National Academic Team Award

NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad (PDF)
NFHCA Division II National Team Award (PDF)

RINDGE, N.H. (March 10, 2011) – Freshman backs Renee DesPres (Skowhegan, Maine) and Jess Rogers (Uxbridge, Mass.); junior forwards Danielle Dolan (West Brookfield, Mass.), Lauren L'Heureux (Sanford, Maine) and Tia Levins (Manchester, Maine); freshmen midfielders Julie Hemphill (Clarkston, Mich.) and Liz Noddin (Skowhegan, Maine); sophomore back Alyssa Juszczyk (Warren, Mass.); and junior goalkeeper Britt Nyzio (Attleboro, 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 Thursday 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, Franklin Pierce was one of 20 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 3.10 grade-point average last semester.

DesPres posted a 3.33 grade-point average in the fall as a business management major. On the field, she started all 19 games on the back line for the Ravens and tied for the team lead with two defensive saves on her way to a selection to the Northeast-10 Conference All-Rookie Team. DesPres was named to the Northeast-10 Weekly Honor Roll for the week ending on Nov. 7.

Dolan currently owns a 3.44 grade-point average through five semesters as a psychology major in Rindge. She started all 19 games for the Ravens in the fall and tied for the team lead with five assists while adding two goals to finish with nine points. Through her junior season, she ranks in the top 10 in program history in goals (13) and points (33). This is Dolan's third selection to the National Academic Squad in as many seasons.

Hemphill tallied a 3.36 grade-point average in her first semester at Franklin Pierce as a graphic design major. She made nine appearances, despite being sidelined for most of the middle of the season, and recorded her first career point with an assist against Saint Anselm on Sept. 29.

Juszczyk possesses a 3.54 grade-point average through three semesters in Rindge and is a biology major. She missed half of the season due to injury, but did make 10 appearances on the back line for Franklin Pierce, including six starts. Juszczyk has been named to the National Academic Squad during both of her seasons with the Ravens.

L'Heureux sports a 3.37 grade-point average through five semesters as a biology major with the Ravens. She appeared in 16 of the team's 19 games and scored a pair of goals, including one in the team's Northeast-10 quarterfinal appearance at American International. She was named to the Northeast-10 Weekly Honor Roll for the week ending on Nov. 21. L'Heureux is now a three-time National Academic Squad honoree.

Levins leads the way for the Ravens with a team-best 3.82 grade-point average over her first five semesters as a business management major. She made 18 starts this fall and appeared in all 19 games on her way to All-Northeast-10 Second Team accolades. Levins finished in the top 25 in the nation in goals per game (0.63) and points per game (1.37), placed in the top 10 in the Northeast-10 in both goals (12) and points (26) and was named to the Northeast-10 Weekly Honor Roll twice during the season. Her 12 goals set a new program record for most goals in a season, while the 26 points ranks second in program annals. Through three seasons, she ranks in the top five in program history in goals (17) and points (37). Levins joins Dolan and L'Heureux as three-time National Academic Squad selections and was one of two Ravens field hockey players named to the Northeast-10 Academic All-Conference Team last month.

Noddin posted a 3.31 grade-point average in her first semester as a biology major. She appeared in 18 of the team's 19 games, made six starts and netted her first career goal in the team's win over Bentley on Oct. 9.

Nyzio currently owns a 3.57 grade-point average through two semesters at La Salle and three semesters in Rindge. She started 16 of 19 games in front of the Ravens net and appeared in one more game as a reserve to post an 8-9 record. Nyzio finished fifth in the nation and third in the Northeast-10 in goals-against average (1.55), in addition to placing third in the conference with six shutouts. The six shutouts set a new single-season program record, while the eight wins and 1.55 goals-against average both rank in the top three in program history. With one season still left in Rindge, Nyzio is already the program's career leader in wins (16) and goals-against average (1.49) and is tied for the top spot in shutouts (7). Nyzio makes it four Ravens who are three-time National Academic Squad selections, as she was named to the Division I squad as a freshman at La Salle in addition to her two selections at Franklin Pierce. She joined Levins on last month's Northeast-10 Academic All-Conference Team.

Rogers collected a 3.77 grade-point average during her first semester at Franklin Pierce as an elementary education major. She appeared in 11 games for the Ravens and made her first career start on Oct. 13 at Assumption.

The Ravens finished the season at 9-10 and posted a 6-4 record in Northeast-10 Conference play to earn their second postseason appearance in three years. The 6-4 record in league play marked the first time the program finished above .500 in the conference since 2000. It was the second year in a row the team finished with nine wins, which is two shy of the program record, set in 2000.

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).