March 12, 2008

BERKELEY - The California field hockey team placed nine players on the 2007ZAG/NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association announced this week.

The NFHCA also lauded Cal as one of the nation's "Programs with a Team GPA of 3.0 or Higher."

The Cal players on the academic squad are junior midfielder Gwen Belomy, junior defender Carolina Bistue, sophomore midfielder Caitlin Byrne, freshman midfielder Kaitlin Duncan, junior goalkeeper Kelly Knoche, freshman midfielder Jessica Kolte, freshman midfielder Lisa Lohre, junior defender Rachel Moffitt and sophomore forward Kellie York.

The 2007 Cal team finished the season with a 12-6 record and an appearance in the NorPac Conference Tournament championship game.

Bears head coach Shellie Onstead, who had 10 players make the academic squad in 2006, is currently in Japan as an assistant coach to the U.S. national team. The United States, which is tuning up for its Olympic qualifying tournament, is 0-2 in a series of four games against the host country.