N. Dartmouth, MA --- Seven Worcester State field hockey student-athletes have been selected for Little East All-Academic Team honors as announced by league publicist Jack Holleran.
The squad tied with Westfield State for the second-most honorees. Keene State led all field hockey schools with nine.
To earn a spot on the Fall All-Academic Team, student-athletes must be enrolled within their institution for a full academic year, be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 and a full-time member of a varsity sport.
The honorees included fourth-year teammates Nicole Harvey (Attleboro, MA), Torey Kuchachik (Ashland, MA), Rebecca Mullen (Peabody, MA), Ally Valencia (Foxboro, MA), junior classmates Katherine Bitters (Greenfield, MA) and Amanda Turnbull (Rochdale, MA) and sophomore Katelyn Androwski (Oxford, MA).
The senior class of Harvey, Kuchachik, Mullen and Valencia were also honored on last years All-LEC academic squad. As sophomores, the four were also members of the squad that led the All NCAA Divisions with a 3.57 grade point average as recognized by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).
Kuchachik and Bitters combined for 11 defensive saves en route to breaking the school record of 18. The Blue and Gold ended the year tied for 15th in the NCAA Division III in defensive stops for the fifth best total in New England.
Valencia also led the squad in assists (6) and points (12).
Under the direction of first-year head coach Chris Pothier, the Lancers ended the campaign with a record of 3-15 and they were also 1-10 in the ultra competative Little East Conference.