SLIPPERY ROCK, PA. -- The Slippery Rock University field hockey team was named Tuesday by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association as the co-owner of the second highest cumulative grade point average among NCAA Division II teams during the Fall 2009 semester.

The Rock also had 15 field hockey student-athletes named to National Academic Squad status.

SRU tied with Bentley (Mass.) University for second place in the Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA Collegiate National Academic Team competition with a 3.38 team GPA.

Millersville University, a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rival of The Rock, led all Division II teams with a 3.41 cumulative GPA.

The National Academic Team award recognizes the institutions that earned at least a 3.0 GPA through the first half of the 2009-10 academic year. In all, 18 schools were recognized, including eight PSAC teams.

The National Academic Squad recognizes those student-athletes who have earned at least a 3.30 GPA or higher through the first half of the 2009-10 academic year.

SRU field hockey student-athletes named to the National Academic Squad included junior forward Samantha Badaczewski, junior midfielders Karen Citroen and Allie Hartman, sophomore goalie Lauren Beeker, sophomore midfielder Skylar Brosse, sophomore forwards Jessica Cartwright and Rebecca Coleman, sophomore defenders Teresa Elliott, Jordan Hausladen, Erin Moran, Brittany Schultz and Jenna Stine, freshman midfielder Gabrielle Malishchak, freshman forward Liana Pittman and redshirted freshman Allison Banks.

The Rock is led by head coach Stacey Hart and assistant coach Katina Polites.

The 2009 Rock roster did not include any seniors, so the future appears bright for the Green and White, who finished the season with a 3-16 overall record. The win total was the highest recorded by a Rock squad since 2003.