Katelyn Bramkamp

Four Blazers Recognized by NFHCA

FREDERICK, Md.--Four members of the Hood College field hockey team were recognized by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association this week for their excellence in athletics and academics.

Freshman midfielder Maria Smith, junior forward Brandy Noel, freshman forward Katelyn Bramkamp and senior goalkeeper Jen Lacy were named to the NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad. Members of this elite team must maintain a 3.3 grade-point average during the first semester of the 2008-09 academic year.

Smith, Noel and Lacy started all 14 games for the Blazers while Bramkamp earned two starts in the nine games she appeared in. Noel paced the Blazer attack with 14 points on six goals and two assists while Smith tallied a pair of goals in her first season with the squad. Lacy racked up 151 saves in her first season in the cage.

Additionally, the Blazer field hockey squad was recognized with the National Academic Team Award. This distinction is awarded to programs with a team GPA or higher. Hood was one of six Capital Athletic Conference teams and 102 teams across NCAA Division III to earn this honor.