Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division I National Academic Team Awards
Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division I Scholars of Distinction
Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn field hockey team was honored multiple times for its work in the classroom, it was announced by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) this month. The Blackbirds, in their first season as a program, earned a National Team Academic Award, had two Division I Scholars of Distinction, and had 12 athletes named to the National Academic Squad.

The Zag Field Hockey/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I National Academic Team Awards were announced recently, with 76 squads earning recognition. The National Academic Team Award recognizes those institutions that achieved a minimum team grade-point average of 3.0 during the first semester of the 2016-17 academic year.

Additionally, freshmen Lauren Alburg and Gillian Vallaster were named Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division I Scholars of Distinction, the first two such honorees in the program's history.

Scholars of Distinction have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or greater through the first semester of the 2016-17 academic year. Each representative was also placed on the Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad.

Alburg and Vallaster were joined by 10 of their teammates on the National Academic Squad. The Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad includes all student-athletes with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or greater through the first semester of the 2016-17 academic year.

For LIU, Alburg, Haley Ballard, Casey Carrigan, Madi Cook, Olivia Dennis, Molly Jannell, Kennedy Johnson, Brianne Lynch, Brooke McGinley, Skai Sprenkle, Lydia Trout and Vallaster all qualified for the honor in their first semesters at LIU.