CHANDLER, Ariz. – The Simmons College field hockey team had 13 players named to the ZAG Field Hockey/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 2015-16 academic year. 

The Sharks were one of just 36 teams in the nation to have 13 or more players recognized to rank among the top 25% of squads honored. Simmons 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 Sarah Douglas (Woodstock, Conn.), Analise Giarrusso (Hingham, Mass.) and Mandy Koshivas (Ipswich, Mass.) as well as sophomore Eryn Melanson (Townsend, Mass.) and senior Nicole Coolbrith (Uxbridge, Mass.). Sophomores Sammy Rondeau (Franklin, Mass.), Kiera Kirkaldy (Middlebury, Vt.), Julie Kellndorfer (Amherst, N.H.) and juniors Hailey Bruno-Moulton (South Berwick, Maine) and Mary Neidhardt (Middlefield, Conn.) were all tabbed for the second straight year, while juniors Jillian Mercer (Dartmouth, Mass.) and Robin Powell (Richmond, Vt.) were both named for the third consecutive year. Senior Alexia Malone Oliver (Bristol, R.I.) joined a select group that earned the nod for the fourth year in a row. 

In addition, the Sharks were recognized for the 2015 ZAG Field Hockey/NFHCA Collegiate National Academic Team Award for the 15th consecutive year after posting a team GPA of 3.52. 

Simmons finished the season with a 14-5 record, while winning the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship for the second straight season. The Sharks advanced to the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, but fell to State University of New York at New Paltz, 1-0, on November 11, 2015. For the first time in program history, Simmons boasted the Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year as well as a pair of First Team All-Region selections and seven All-Conference honorees.