GILBERT, Ariz. — For the first time since the 2015-16 school year, Maine field hockey had a student-athlete honored by the NFHCA as a "Scholar of Distinction" as not one, but two Black Bears appeared on this year's roll in the form of freshmen Kiera Smith and Julia Ross. 

The Division I Scholars of Distinction program recognizes student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.9 or higher through the first semester of the 2019-20 academic year.

Smith and Ross are the first Maine players since Casey Crowley to take home the honor, which Crowley achieved after her freshman season in Orono.  Kiera Smith is majoring in International Affairs, while Julia Ross majors in Biomedical Engineering. 

The full list of honorees can be found within the official NFHCA release here.