GORHAM, Maine  –  Sixteen members of the University of Southern Maine Huskies' field hockey team have earned academic distinction from the National Field Hockey Coaches' Association (NFHCA) with their selection to the 2021 OPA Winning Teams/NFHCA National Academic Squad.. 
The NFHCA's National Academic Squad recognizes student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher through the first semester of the 2021-22 academic year.

            Senior Samantha Ellis (New Vineyard, Maine) and junior Julianna Kiklis (York, Maine) are both three-time recipients of the academic honor.  A three-time William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete and a two-time all-conference pick at forward, Ellis is a Nursing major.  Kiklis, who earned second team All-Little East Conference honors as a goalkeeper in 2021, is studying Business Management.

            Six Huskies are earning the award for the second time in their career, including sophomores Chloe Arsenault (Boothbay, Maine), Hannah Banks (Belfast, Maine), Brooke Carson (Bryant Pond, Maine/Oxford Hills), Johanna Daigle (Ashburnham, Mass.), Mary Keef (Westbrook, Maine) and junior Mackenzie Banks (Belfast, Maine). Arsenault and Daigle are Health Sciences majors, while the Banks sisters are both studying Business.  Carson is a Business major with a concentration in Marketing, while Keef is pursuing a degree in Finance.  Hannah Banks earned first team all-conference honors as a midfielder.

            Eight first year recipients round out the list including 2021 Little East Conference Rookie of the Year and Synapse National Rookie Team selection Sage Drinkwater (Steep Falls, Maine). A Linguistics major, Drinkwater led USM with 11 goals and five assists in 2021, and was also a first team all-conference selection.

            Joining Drinkwater as first-year recipients are sophomore Jordan Cummings (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little), freshmen Julia Edwards (Gorham, Maine), Elizabeth Gonyea (Rindge, N.H./Conant), Hailee Lindelof (Swanville, Maine/Belfast Area), Emma Samason (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little), Paige Seymour (Eddington, Maine/Brewer) and Adelle Surette (Sabatus, Maine/Oak Hill).  Cummings, Edwards, and Samson are Health Sciences majors, while Gonyea is studying Nursing.  Surette is pursuing a degree in accounting, while Seymour is working towards a degree in Elementary Education.  Seymour was the 2021 LEC recipient of the 12^th man award.

            Southern Maine finished the 2021 season with 13-9 overall record and a 9-3 mark in Little East Conference regular season action. The Huskies advanced to the semifinals of the LEC tournament.
 

Name	Class	Hometown	Major
Chloe Arsenault	So.	Boothbay, Maine	Health Sciences
Hannah Banks	So.	Belfast, Maine	Business Management
Mackenzie Banks	Jr.	Belfast, Maine	Business
Brooke Carson	So.	Bryant Pond, Maine	Business
Jordan Cummings	So.	Auburn, Maine	Health Sciences
Johanna Daigle	So.	Ashburnham, Mass.	Health Sciences
Sage Drinkwater	Fr.	Steep Falls, Maine	Linguistics
Julia Edwards	Fr.	Gorham, Maine	Health Sciences
Samantha Ellis	Sr.	New Vineyard, Maine	Nursing
Elizabeth Gonyea	Fr.	Rindge, N.H.	Nursing
Mary Keef	So.	Westbrook, Maine	Finance
Julianna Kiklis	Jr.	York, Maine	Business Management
Hailee Lindeloff	Fr.	Swanville, Maine	Exercise Science
Emma Samson	Fr.	Auburn, Maine	Health Sciences
Paige Seymour	Fr.	Eddington, Maine	Elementary Education
Adelle Surette	Fr.	Sabatus, Maine	Accounting