Field Hockey Collects ZAG/NFHCA Academic Honors


Del Bonis

Morse

Proia

Healy

Gifford

Long

Timmermans

Skyhawks earn ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Team Award for 13th straight year
Seven Skyhawks collect ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Squad honors

ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Squad Announcement

ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Team Announcement

EASTON, Mass. (March 15, 2017) – Seven members of the Stonehill College field hockey program have been named to the ZAG Field Hockey/National Field Hockey Coaches Association NCAA Division II National Academic Squad for their performances in the classroom, while the program was one of 29 in Division II honored for having a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Stonehill received the ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Team Award for the 13th straight year, presented annually to programs who achieve a 3.0 team GPA or higher. The Skyhawks are one of 12 Northeast-10 Conference programs, out of 13, on the Academic Team list. The academic distinction comes after Stonehill earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament for the fourth straight year and eighth time in program history, overall.

In addition to receiving the ZAG/NFHCA Team Academic Award, seven Stonehill student-athletes were named to the ZAG/NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad for having a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 through the first semester of the year. Seniors Jackie Del Bonis (North Attleboro, Massachusetts/North Attleboro) and Sarah Morse (Westminster, Massachusetts/Oakmont Regional) headline those honorees by being named to the National Academic Squad all four years.

Joining Del Bonis and Morse on the National Academic Squad are seniors Shea Healy (Greenfield, Massachusetts/Pioneer Valley), and Amanda Proia (Maynard, Massachusetts/Cushing Academy), junior Hannah Gifford (Goffstown, New Hampshire/Goffstown) and freshmen Taylor Long (Northborough, Massachusetts/Algonquin Regional) and Justine Timmermans (Huizen, The Netherlands).

Del Bonis, a criminology and political science double-major with a 3.72 cumulative GPA at Stonehill, earns a spot on the ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Squad for the fourth straight year. She is a member of the Edwin H. Sutherland Criminology Honor Society and Pi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society and has been named to the NE-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and Athletic Director's Honor Roll all seven semesters.

Del Bonis appeared in 33 games over her collegiate career as part of a defensive unit which has annually ranked among the best in the NE-10 and all of Division II. The Skyhawks posted a 2.44 team goals against average in 2016 with an NE10 leading eight shutouts.


Morse, a CoSIDA Academic All-American and two-time All-American earns a spot on the ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Squad all four years. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Morse, a finance major with a 3.69 cumulative grade point average at Stonehill, earns a spot on the ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Squad for the fourth straight year. The Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society inductee earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-America® women's at large third team as a junior after being named to the Academic All-District I at large first team. She is a two-time NE10 Academic All-Conference team selection and has received the St. Thomas Aquinas, Patron Saint of Students, Medal for having the highest cumulative grade point average on the field hockey team the last two years. Morse been named to the NE-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and Athletic Director's Honor Roll all seven semesters to date.

Morse, who moved to Stonehill's back line last fall after starring in the midfield her first three seasons, and was a consensus All-American for the second straight year, earning first team honors from Synapse Sports and second team accolades by the NFCA after bring a consensus first team selection as a junior. The two-time All-NE10 first team honoree is also a two-time NE10 All-Championship team member, earning Most Outstanding Player honors in helping lead Stonehill to its second straight title in 2015. Morse started 61 of her 79 career games played and totaled six goals and 24 assists for 36 points, finishing her career fifth in program history for career assists.

Proia, a criminology and psychology dual major with a 3.51 cumulative grade point average at Stonehill, earned a spot on the ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Squad all three years she has been a member of the team. She has been inducted to the Edwin H. Sutherland Criminology Honor Society and has been named to the NE10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and Athletic Director's Honor Roll five semesters each. Proia has appeared in 12 games over her three seasons with the Skyhawks as part of the defensive unit, which posted a 2.44 team goals against average and NE10 leading eight shutouts in 2016.

Healy, a healthcare administration major with a 3.39 cumulative grade point average, earns a spot on the ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Squad for the first time. She is a member of the Upsilon Phi Delta national honor society and has been named to the NE10 Commissioner's Honor Roll all seven semesters and Athletic Director's Honor Roll four semesters at the College.

 
Del Bonis also earns a spot on the ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Squad all four years. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Healy, a consensus All-American last fall with second team honors from both the NFHCA and Synapse Sports, earned All-NE10 first team accolades this past fall after totaling six goals and five assists for 11 points in 20 starts, netting three gamewinning goals. Healy was named to the Synapse Sports Division II All-Rookie Team and NE10 All-Rookie team her freshman year and started 61 of the 82 games she played over her career, totaling 15 goals, including seven gamewinners, and ten assists for 40 points, adding two defensive saves.

Gifford, a biology major with a 3.47 cumulative grade point average at Stonehill, is named to the ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Squad for the third straight year. She has been named to the NE-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and Athletic Director's Honor Roll all five semesters. Gifford has started 24 of her 48 career games played, starting all 20 this past fall when she netted a goal and assist for three points. She has recorded three goals and two assists for eight points over her career, adding a defensive save.

Long, a political science major with a 3.89 cumulative GPA, earns a spot on the ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Squad following her first season at Stonehill. She has been named to the NE10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and Athletic Director's Honor Roll for the fall semester. Long appeared in ten games during her freshman season and netted a goal in a 2-0 win over No. 2 Millersville University on September 5.

Timmermans, who earned a 3.63 grade point average during her first semester at Stonehill, is named to the ZAG/NFHCA National Academic Squad for the first time. She was also named to the NE10 Commissioner's and Athletic Director's Honor Rolls and started 19 of her 20 games played in her first season with the Skyhawks. Timmermans registered two goals and two assists for six points from the midfield, with a game-winning goal.

Stonehill finished its 2016 season with a 14-6 record overall, including a 9-3 mark in the Northeast-10, in its way to earning the eighth NCAA Tournament bid in program history.

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