GORHAM, Maine –  Thirty-three University of Southern Maine Huskies' Fall sport student-athletes have been recognized by the Little East Conference for their outstanding academic achievements earning a spot on the 2020 Little East Conference Fall All-Academic Team. Students from each of Southern Maine's eight Little East Conference sponsored teams have representatives on the academic squad: men's cross country, women's cross country, field hockey, golf, men's soccer, women's soccer, women's tennis and women's volleyball.

To earn the distinguished award, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore in standing both academically and athletically, have on cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher through the previous semester, and have been at their current institution for at least one full academic year.

"Speaking on behalf of the entire Department of Athletics, we are exceptionally proud of our student-athletes and their ability to excel academically and athletically while navigating unique and challenging circumstances related to COVID-19," said USM Director of Athletics Al Bean.  "The rigorous academic responsibilities and the commitment and challenges of being a student-athlete are not easily balanced, and to excel at this task speaks to the quality of character that is representative of USM student-athletes.  I extend my congratulations and thank you to each of these students for wearing their Husky uniform with outstanding character, academic and athletic distinction."

Sixteen different University of Southern Maine majors are represented by the Huskies' 33 Fall LEC All-Academic team roster, including eight Nursing, four Health Science, three Business Management, three Biology, three English, two History, and two Mechanical Engineering majors. The rest of the Huskies' All-Academic selections come from Art, Biochemistry, Exercise Science, Engineering, Psychology, Self-Designed and Sport Management.   Twenty-one of the Huskies' fall all-academic award winners have at least a 3.5 grade-point average, and 21 student-athletes have a 3.7 or higher.  One Husky, sophomore men's cross country runner and history major Tom Pinette (Limestone, Maine) earned a 4.0 GPA – and is one of just 17 student-athletes in LEC to achieve the distinction while participating in a fall sport.

Among the members of the 2020 LEC Fall All-Academic team are junior NCAA Division III All-American Zach Hoyle (Sidney, Maine/Messalonskee), a history major and member of the Huskies' cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field teams; two-time All-LEC pick and a former LEC Rookie of the Year, Samantha Ellis (New Vineyard, Maine/Mt. Blue) of the Huskies field hockey team majoring in Nursing; three-sport student-athlete and 2019 GNAC Golfer of the Year Tristan Dundas (Abbotsford, B.C.) – also a member of the Huskies lacrosse and ice hockey teams and a Business Management major; and junior Nursing major Alexandra Allain (Carmel, Maine) an All-LEC midfielder for the women's soccer team.

Fully embracing the NCAA Division III philosophy and its commitment to academics and the full student-athlete experience, the University of Southern Maine Department of Athletics supports nearly 500 student-athletes, who have a combined grade point average of 3.133.  This December, Huskies' athletics recognized a record 259 student-athletes with its William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete distinction (given to those who have achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher during the previous academic year).
 

Men's Cross Country
Name	Class	Institution	Major	Hometown
Nate Henry	So.	Southern Maine	Business Management	Brewer, Maine
Zach Hoyle	Sr.	Southern Maine	History	Sidney, Maine
Tom Pinette	So.	Southern Maine	History	Limestone, Maine
Women's Cross Country
Name	Class	Institution	Major	Hometown
Hannah Chadwick	Jr.	Southern Maine	Self-Design Major	Sebago, Maine
Taylor Chamberlain	Jr.	Southern Maine	Biochemistry	Lewiston, Maine
Emily Colby	Jr.	Southern Maine	Health Science	Lunenburg, Vt.
Maddie Fornasier	So.	Southern Maine	Nursing	South Burlington, Vt.
Rachael Raymond	Jr.	Southern Maine	Art	East Waterboro, Maine
Savannah Valle	So.	Southern Maine	Psychology	Waterboro, Maine
Field Hockey
Name	Class	Institution	Major	Hometown
Mackenzie Banks	So.	Southern Maine	Sports Management	Belfast, Maine
Samantha Ellis	Jr.	Southern Maine	Nursing	New Vineyard, Maine
Jenna House	Jr.	Southern Maine	Exercise Science	Buffalo, N.Y.
Julianna Kiklis	So.	Southern Maine	Business Management	York, Maine
Julia Nicol	Sr.	Southern Maine	Health Science	Augusta, Maine
Maddie Pullen	Jr.	Southern Maine	Nursing	Levant, Maine
Hayden Spencer	Sr.	Southern Maine	Nursing	Sabattus, Maine
Men's Golf
Name	Class	Institution	Major	Hometown
Tristan Dundas	Sr.	Southern Maine	Business Management	Abbotsford, B.C.
Men's Soccer
Name	Class	Institution	Major	Hometown
Sean Brueninghaus	So.	Southern Maine	Engineering	Superior, Wis.
Ronan Hume	So.	Southern Maine	Nursing	Marshfield, Mass.
Ali Jimale	So.	Southern Maine	Undeclared	Portland, Maine
Matt Robichaud	So.	Southern Maine	Mechanical Engineering	Dracut, Mass.
Kevin Voter	So.	Southern Maine	Mechanical Engineering	Sanford, Maine
Women's Soccer
Name	Class	Institution	Major	Hometown
Alexandra Allain	Jr.	Southern Maine	Nursing	Carmel, Maine
Grace Blackwell	So.	Southern Maine	Biology	Rockport, Maine
Yaya Dunn	So.	Southern Maine	Leadership Studies	Kittery, Maine
Meghan Galante	So.	Southern Maine	Biology	Epping, N.H.
Katie Lynch	So.	Southern Maine	Marketing	Bellingham, Mass.
Women's Volleyball
Name	Class	Institution	Major	Hometown
Lauren Delissio	Sr.	Southern Maine	Nursing	Hebron, Conn.
Cassidy Gibb	So.	Southern Maine	Biology	Lee, N.H.
Jamie Jannarone	Sr.	Southern Maine	Health Science	Windham, Maine
Sophia Lindsay	Jr.	Southern Maine	Athletic Training	Pasadena, Calif.
Women's Tennis
Name	Class	Institution	Major	Hometown
Catherine Close	So.	Southern Maine	Nursing	Orleans, Vt.
Ciara Richards	Jr.	Southern Maine	Health Sciences	Caribou, Maine