CHANDLER, Ariz. - The Simmons College field hockey team had 10 student-athletes named to the 2014 Gladiator by SGI/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III National Academic Squad it was announced today by the NFHCA. 

The National Academic Squad recognizes those student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher through the first semester of the 2014-15 academic year.

Sharks field hockey has had seven or more student-athletes honored for the National Squad since 2009.

The following student-athletes from Simmons earned a spot on the squad for the first time: First years Julie Kellndorfer (Amherst, N.H.), Kiera Kirkaldy (Middlebury, Vt.), Samantha Rondeau (Franklin, Mass.) and Kelly Ryan (Hatfield, Mass.) as well as sophomores Hailey Bruno-Moulton (South Berwick, Maine) and Mary Neidhardt (Middlefield, Conn.), while sophomores Jillian Mercer (Dartmouth, Mass.) and Robin Powell (Richmond, Vt.) were both named for the second straight year. Junior Alexia Malone Oliver (Bristol, R.I.) earned the honor for the third consecutive season and senior Kelly Williamson (Natick, Mass.) was tabbed as a four-year selection.

Kellndorfer and Mercer were also honored last week when the pair were 2014 Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA Division III Scholars of Distinction recipients, chosen by the NFHCA for registering a GPA of 3.90 or higher. 

In addition, the Sharks were recognized for the 2014 Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA Collegiate National Academic Team Award for the 14th consecutive year after posting a team GPA of 3.33. 

Simmons finished the season with a 13-6 mark, while winning the Great Northeast Athletic Conference crown for the first conference championship in program history. The Sharks advanced to the NCAA Tournament, before bowing out in the first round with a 2-0 loss to host University of New England on November 12. Simmons boasted an All-Region honoree as well as the GNAC Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year and five All-Conference First Team selections.