BROCKPORT, N.Y. — Russell Sage College's field hockey program was once again saluted by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) as one of the 148 Division III teams that earned the 2021 NFHCA Division III National Academic Team Award.

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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology posted the highest team GPA with a mark of 3.86. Dean College came in second with a team-average 3.80. NCAA National Champion, Middlebury College, and NCAA runners-up Johns Hopkins University, also appear on the top-five performers list.

The Gators posted a 4-13 overall record, while going 2-6 in the Empire 8 this past fall under the direction of head coach Tamara Mills. Among the many honors this year, RSC had one player also honored by the NFHCA with a selection to the 2021 Scholars of Distinction Team, junior midfielder Kyndra Riche (Salem, NY/Salem Washington Academy). In addition, six Gators were also tapped for the 2021 NFHCA National Academic Squad. They include senior Ashlee Billert (Bennington, VT/Mount Anthony Union), junior Alyssa Fitzgerald (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury), junior Katie Flood (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa), senior Abigayle Greier (Elma, NY/Iroquois Central), and junior Madalyn Milligan (Canastota, NY/Canastota), as well as Riche.

In addition, two RSC performers were also recognized by the Empire 8 with the announcement of the 2021 Empire 8 Field Hockey All-Conference Teams at season's end. A defender, Billert was named to the 2021 Empire 8 Field Hockey All-Conference Second Team on defense, while Riche was named to the Field Hockey Sportswoman Team as well.