Hartford, Conn. -  Five Trinity College field hockey players were named as 2020 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Scholars of Distinction, as sophomore Riley Nichols (Austin, Texas) and first-years Jackie Frank (Longmeadow, Mass.), Elizabeth Geisler (West Hartford, Conn.), Catherine Irving (Ridgefield, Conn.), and Kylie Tierney (Garden City, N.Y.) each achieved the required cumulative g.p.a. of 3.9 or higher during the 2020 fall semester.  No less than 15 Bantams were named to the NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad, while three Trinity field hockey players graced the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Fall All-Academic Team.  Bantam senior co-captains Kendall Brown (Rowayton, Conn.) and Caroline Munn (Garden City, N.Y.), senior Ellie Tate (Carlisle, Pa.), juniors Caelin Flaherty (Upton, Mass.) and Christine Taylor (Westport, Conn.), and sophomores Elle Fair (Westport, Conn.), Lucy Larkin (Dover, Mass.), Nichols, and first-years Frank, Geisler, Irving, Molly King (Canton, Mass.), Rachel Place (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), Tierney, and Katrina Winfield (Wilmington, Del.) represented Trinity field hockey on the Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad, while Fair, Munn, and Nichols graced the NESCAC Fall All-Academic Team.  In addition, the Trinity field hockey squad was also recognized as an National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) 2020 Division III National Academic Team.  The Bantams, coached by Anne Parmenter (19th season), were denied the opportunity to compete in their final traditional season by the COVID-19 outbreak, but are working hard and safely at practice to prepare for a chance to compete as Bantams this spring.  

The NFHCA Scholars of Distinction program recognizes student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.9 or higher through the first semester of the current academic year.  This year, over 2,050 student-athletes from more than 140 Division III institutions earned recognition on the 2020 NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad.  The Division III National Academic Squad program honors student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.3 or higher through the first semester of the 2020-2021 academic year.  A total of 696 student-athletes were named to the 2020 NESCAC Fall All-Academic Team. To be honored, an individual must have been enrolled full-time during the fall semester, reached sophomore academic standing, and be in good standing in their sport with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 or equivalent on a 4.0 scale. Transfers must have completed one year of study at an institution.  The NFHCA National Academic Team Award recognizes programs that earned a team grade-point average of 3.0 or higher during the fall semester of the current academic year.

Nichols, who repeats this season as both a NFCHA Scholar of Distinction and National Academic Squad honoree, appeared in nine games as a forward and midfielder for the Bantams in 2019. A graduate of St. Stephens High School, she is the daughter of Kim and Clay Nichols.  Frank is a graduate of Longmeadow High School and is the daughter of Diane and David Frank.  Geisler is a graduate of Conard High School and is majoring in public policy & law at Trinity.  She is the daughter of Linda and Jim Geisler.  Irving is a graduate of Ridgefield High School and is majoring in biology at Trinity.  She is the daughter of Cristen and Drew Irving.  Tierney is a graduate of Garden City High School and is the daughter of Barbara and Patrick Tierney.
 
Brown was both a Longstreth/NFHCA and a Synapse Sports Division III All-American in 2019. She also graced the 2019 Longstreth/NFHCA Division III New England West All-Region First Team and the All-NESCAC First Team in her junior season. Brown started all 16 games and led the Bantams with 13 goals (2nd in NESCAC), 31 points (2nd in NESCAC) and four game-winning tallies (T3rd in NESCAC) to go with her five assists. A graduate of the Westminster School, Brown is majoring in American Studies at Trinity. She is the daughter of Tori and Sandy.
 
Caroline Munn, a three-time NFHCA National Academic Team honoree, started all 16 games on defense for the Bantams in 2019. A graduate of Garden City High School, Munn is majoring in American Studies and urban studies at Trinity. She is the daughter of Susan and Doug Munn.  Tate, who repeats on the NESCAC All-Academic Team, played in every game for the Bantams in 2019 and paced team with two defensive saves. She also swims for the Bantams. A graduate of Carlisle High School, Tate is majoring in environmental science at Trinity.  She is the daughter of Alicia and Jonathan Tate.  Flaherty, a Longstreth/NFHCA All-Region Second Team honoree in 2019, started all 16 games  and led the Bantams in assists with seven (T5th in NESCAC) to go with six goals for 19 points that autumn. She took 30 shots and scored twice on three penalty strokes.  She repeats on the NFHCA National Academic Team. A graduate of the New Hampton School in New Hampshire, Flaherty is majoring in psychology at Trinity. She is the daughter of Catherine and John.
 
Taylor makes her second appearance on the NFHCA All-Academic Squad. She started all 16 games in 2019 and also plays lacrosse for Trinity. A graduate of Staples High School, Taylor is majoring in economics at Trinity. She is the daughter of Megan and Timothy Taylor.  Fair makes her second appearance on the NFHCA All-Academic Squad. As a rookie, she played in all 16 games with 15 starts and recorded one assist as a defender for the Bantams in the fall of 2019. A graduate of Staples High School, Fair is majoring in economics at Trinity. She is the daughter of Sarah and Matthew Fair.  Larkin is a graduate if Proctor Academy in New Hampshire and is majoring in urban studies at Trinity.  She is the daughter of Gretchen and Bill Larkin.  Patry is a graduate of York High School. She is the daughter of Karyn Rimas and Jeffrey Patry.  King is a graduate of Thayer Academy. She is the daughter of Rebecca King.  Place is a graduate of Winsor High School. She is the daughter of Nancy and Calvin Place.  Winfield is a graduate of Winfield Friends High School and is majoring in political science at Trinity. She is the daughter of Nina and James Winfield.