Grats to the Lady Huskies/Graduation Data

Congratulations to the Lady Huskies of Bloomsburg on taking their third straight Division II field hockey title, and their sixth in the last seven years, by defeating 6-2 on Sunday the Lady River Hawks of UMass-Lowell, who were the 2005 champions and last years' defeated finalist. Senior Jamie Vanartsdalen, who scored two goals in the finals last year, bested that performance by scoring three goals and assisting on one other. Over the course of the season, she scored 40 goals and posted 22 assists, which bested the DII record which she set last year, and she was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference field hockey athlete of the year for the second year running. Maggey Bloskey, Chelsea Due, and Ashley Miller rounded out the scoring for the Huskies, while Jaci Moulton and and Missy Seeley added the goals for the River Hawks. This also marks the fifteenth national title in field hockey for head coach Jan Hutchinson.

Bloomsburg also posts a 70% graduation rate in women's sports other than basketball, cross country, and track. Their final four rivals have even better numbers. Defeated finalist UMass-Lowell posts a 81% graduation rate, with semi-finalists Shippensburg and Bentley coming it at 82% and 91% respectively. Once again, there is clear evidence that academic and on-field success are not mutually exclusive. Many congratulations to all of the fine STUDENT-athletes who participated.

Grats to the Lady Tar Heels/Graduation Data

Many congratulations to the Lady Tar Heels on finishing a perfect 24-0 season with a 3-0 victory over Penn State in the finals of the DI Field Hockey championship. This is the fifth title for the program and coach Karen Shelton, who is second in all time DI NCAA field hockey championships. Freshman Katelyn Falgowski led off the scoring, with senior captain Rachel Dawson and sophomore Danielle Forword adding insurance goals. Each of these players, along with sophomore Illse Davids were named to the all-tournament team.

North Carolina also posts an 88% graduation rate in women's sports 'Other' than Basketball and Cross-Country/Track, and beaten finalist Penn State comes in at 93%. Beaten semi-finalists Connecticut and Wake Forest round out the top four at 76% and 82% respectively. Whats going on here? Why can't the schools with lower standards take down the eggheads?

Grats to the Lady Polar Bears/Graduation Data

It pains me to say this as a Batesie, but many congratulations to the Lady Polar Bears of Bowdoin on their 4-3 victory over Middlebury in the DIII Field Hockey Championship, which caps a perfect 20-0 season. Junior Lindsay McNamara, the NESCAC player of the year, scored a hat trick, including the game winner, in the victory. This is the first national championship for Bowdoin in any sport.

Bowdoin is a non-scholarship DIII school, and therefore does not report graduation rates for its athletes, but the overall graduation rate for Bowdoin Students stands at 91%. Beaten finalist Middlebury comes in at 92%, while beaten semifinalists Lebanon Valley and Salisbury check in at 70% and 68%. But high academic standards are incompatible with on-field success. Right?

Grats to the Lady Huskies/Graduation Data

Congratulations to the Lady Huskies of Bloomsburg on defending their Division II field hockey title, their fifth in the last six years, by defeating UMass-Lowell 5-2 this afternoon. Junior Jamie Vanartsdalen scored two goals to cap a DII record-setting year in which she scored 35 goals, added 19 assists, and was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference field hockey athlete of the year. This also marks the fourteenth national title in field hockey for head coach Jan Hutchinson.

Bloomsburg also posts a 73% graduation rate in women's sports other than basketball, cross country, and track. Their final four rivals post similar numbers. Defeated finalist UMass-Lowell posts a 79% graduation rate, with semi-finalists Indiana (PA) and Bentley coming it at 63% and 93% respectively. Once again, there is clear evidence that academic and on-field success are not mutally exclusive. Many congratulations to all of the fine STUDENT-athletes who participated.