(Courtesy of Mansfield Sports Information)

MANSFIELD – The 2007 Mansfield University field hockey has been recognized as the top NCAA Division II academic field hockey program in the nation by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association with a #1 ranking in the 2007 ZAG/NFHCA Division II National Academic Team Awards.

Mansfield posted a team GPA of 3.42 (out of a possible 4.0) for the first semester of the 2007-08 academic year to outdistance Kutztown University (3.38), Bentley College (3.35), Mercyhurst College (3.31) and C.W. Post (3.29) as the top five academic schools in the country.

“Mansfield University is incredibly excited about the academic success of our field hockey program,” said Mansfield University President Dr. Maravene Loeschke. “To be ranked as the top academic program in the nation is a tremendous honor and a great reflection on the student-athletes, coaches, and faculty and support staff here at Mansfield. We couldn’t be more pleased.”

Mansfield has earned NFHCA Division II National Academic Team recognition as one of the top ten programs in NCAA Division II for the past three years, but this is the first time the Mountaineers have posted the top GPA in the nation. Field hockey programs must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the first semester of the academic year to earn NFHCA Division II National Academic Team recognition.

In addition, 10 field hockey student-athletes were named to the 2007 ZAG/NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad. To earn National Academic Squad honors a student-athlete must maintain a 3.30 cumulative grade point average.

Earning National Academic Squad honors are Rebekah Brown (Equinunk,NY/Hancock Central); Laura Carden (Friendsville/Montrose); Christina Carter (Apalachin,NY/Owego); Courtney Grunza  (Nicholson/Lackawanna Trail); Ryanne Higgins (Newtown/Council Rock); Keely Jarrett (Pennsburg/Upper Perkiomen); Shana Markwis (Milford/Delaware Valley); Shantee Proctor (Forty Fort/Wyoming Valley West); Carlyn Spangler (Valley Center, CA/Valley Center) and Breanne Tobin (Perkasie/Pennridge).

Under the direction of head coach Diane Monkiewicz, Mansfield posted an 11-7 record in 2007 and ranked 10th in the nation in the final STX/NFHCA Division II National poll.