Galloway, N.J. - The Stockton University field hockey team qualified for an NFHCA Division III National Academic Team Award from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. In order to be recognized teams must have produced a grade point average of 3.50 or higher during the Fall 2024 semester.
 
Stockton earned the NFHCA National Academic Team Award for the 17th time. The Ospreys were one of 69 NCAA Division III teams in the nation to qualify for the distinction. Three NJAC teams made the list, with Montclair State and Rowan University joining Stockton.
 
The National Academic Team Award follows several NFHCA individual academic honors that were announced earlier this month. Sixteen players qualified for the NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad by attaining cumulative grade point averages of 3.50 or higher through the Fall 2024 semester, six of whom earned NFHCA Scholar of Distinction recognition with GPAs of 3.90 or higher.
 
Senior Dakota Ludman (Cape May CH/Middle Twp.) led the way as she earned a spot on the National Academic Squad for the fourth consecutive year. Juniors MaKenzie Baggstrom (Mays Landing/Cedar Creek), EB Rafferty (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) and Makayla Alessi (Manahawkin/Southern Regional) qualified for the third time.
 
Senior Carlee Thompson (Gibbsboro/Eastern Regional), junior Miana Alessandroni (Cinnaminson/Cinnaminson) and sophomores Olivia Marino (Cedar Knolls/Whippany Park), Kaelin Drey (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown), Jordan Czaczkowski (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) and Ava Smock (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) became National Academic Squad for the second time.
 
Junior Erika Roura (Mt. Laurel/Lenape), sophomores Riley DeMarco (Hammonton/Cedar Creek) and Olivia Catalano (Cinnaminson/Cinnaminson) and freshmen Meghan Bird (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail), Paige Freas (Mickleton/GCIT) and Brielle Romano (Manahawkin/Southern Regional) earned a place on the National Academic Squad for their first time.
 
Rafferty collected an NFHCA Scholar of Distinction award for the second straight year. Catalano, Drey, Freas, Romano and Roura qualified as Scholars of Distinction for the first time.
 
On the field, Stockton went 10-9 overall, highlighted by a six-game winning streak from September 24 through October 8. The Ospreys qualified for the NJAC Tournament with a 3-3 conference record.