State College, Pa., March 1, 2002 - Eight Penn State field hockey players were named to the NFHCA's National Academic Squad. Of the seven Big Ten schools, Penn State and Indiana had the most players selected. Iowa, Michigan and Northwestern each had five players selected to the squad, while Michigan State had three and Ohio State had two. Included in the list of honorees are seniors Kate Bender (Chambersburg, Pa.), Kelly Concini (Danville, Pa.), Marci Ginder (Mount Joy, Pa.) and Meredith Shulzitski (Harleysville, Pa.). Juniors Timarie Legel (Morgantown, Pa.) and Jill Martz (Dalmatia, Pa.), sophomore Neilye Stoner (Manheim, Pa.) and freshman Michele Rigby (Dover, Del.) also represented Penn State on the National Academic Squad.

Players named to the National Academic Team must have attained at least a 3.30 grade point average through the 2001 fall semester and must be a starter or key reserve.

Bender, Concini, Shulzitski, Martz and Stoner were named to the National Academic Squad following the 2000 season. Seven of the eight players also earned a spot on the Big Ten's All-Academic team this year. Rigby was not eligible to receive the Big Ten's academic honor because she is a freshman.

Penn State was 12-7 in 2001 and 3-3 in the Big Ten, missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years. Eleven Nittany Lions have earned 33 postseason honors, including two NFCA first team All-America selections, Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and 10 Academic All-Big Ten picks.