DANBURY, Conn. – Simmons College field hockey player Avery Hines (Newburyport, Mass.) was named to the 2014 Eastern College Athletic Conference New England Second Team it was announced today by the ECAC. 

Hines has been highly decorated following, arguably, the greatest field hockey season in school history. The back was named to the Longstreth National Field Hockey Coaches Association New England East Region First Team as well as the Great Northeast Athletic Conference First Team last month. She was part of a defense that was a major reason for the Sharks' success and first-ever conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. It cannot be overstated how important the defense was for Simmons this season and Hines was a major cog in that effort. The defender became just one of two players in school history to earn All-Region First Team honors when tabbed by the NFHCA after contributing to a defensive front that posted a 1.18 goals against average to rank second in the conference and 20^th in the nation. She was a key to the team's ability to not only prevent goals, but also shots, limiting opponents to just 9.8 shots per contest. A two-year Captain for Simmons, became an All-Conference selection for the second straight year after being named to the North Atlantic Conference Second Team a year ago. A graduate of Newburyport High School, Hines finished her career by starting 58 times during her 63-game tenure, while making eight defensive saves. The senior was also named to this year's GNAC All-Tournament team. 

The Sharks finished the season with a 13-6 mark, while winning the GNAC crown for the first conference championship in program history. Simmons bowed out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a 2-0 loss to host University of New England on November 12.