A total of 61 players, representing all seven Capital Athletic Conference teams, were named to the 2008 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III Acacademic Squad.  Of those 61 players, 15 of them were named to the 2008 All-CAC team, including 10 first-team all-star honorees.

The CAC contingent was led by 2008 Co-Players of the Year Kandice Hancock, a sophomore from Salisbury University, and Emily Smithson, a senior from St. Mary's College of Maryland.  Salisbury freshman Tara McGovern, the 2008 CAC Rookie of the Year, was also named to the NFHCA Division III Acacademic Squad.

The National Academic Squad recognizes those student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher through the first semester of the 2008-09 academic year. 

SMC led the conference with 16 players on the NFHCA Division III Acacademic Squad, including All-CAC honorees Smithson and Julia Puzak.

York was second in the CAC with 12 honorees, including Veronica Eltz, April McFarland and Megan Spangler.

Salisbury, which won its 13th-straight CAC Championship, placed 11 players on the NFHCA Division III Acacademic Squad, including all-stars Hancock, McGovern, Lauren Correll and Kaitlin Fost.

Stevenson University also reached double digits with players on the NFHCA Division III Acacademic Squad, including All-CAC players Catherine Connelly and Christie Greer.

Emma Jones and Heidi Sheeham were among the five University of Mary Washington earning the post-season academic accolades from the NFHCA.

Hood placed four players on the NFHCA Academic Squad, including senior goalie Jen Lacy, while Wesley had three players earn the recognition, including All-CAC honorees Amanda Fisher and Brooke Tadlock.

A copy of this release can also be found on the '08-'09 Honors & Awards page of the NFHCA website at www.nfhca.org.