CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – American University junior goalkeeper Maura Jacobs was selected as the Corvias Patriot League Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year, in addition to being named one of the 11 members of the Academic All-Patriot League Field Hockey Team, announced by the League office on Wednesday afternoon.
Jacobs, a two-time academic all-League selection, was also an All-Patriot League Second-Team selection after leading the Eagles to a second-place finish. She was among the League leaders with a 1.56 goals against average. In the classroom, the junior goalkeeper carries a 3.98 cumulative grade point average (GPA) as a public relations and strategic communications major. She is also a two-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I National Academic Squad member. American has earned eight field hockey scholar-athlete of the year honors, including the last four.
Jacobs and Bucknell junior forward Nicole Rupnik are both two-time members of the academic all-League squad. Rupnik helped the Bison to the third-seed in the upcoming Patriot League Field Hockey Championships with three goals and six points during the regular-season. The junior biology major carries a 3.89 GPA and has also twice earned NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad and a spot on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. She earned NFHCA Division I Scholar of Distinction in 2016.
To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the Academic All-Patriot League Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or key player in his/her sport. Freshmen or students in their first academic year at their school are not eligible for the honor.
Jacobs was joined on the academic all-League squad by teammates Haley Bowcutt (Sr., F) and Rafaela Rubas (Jr., M), the 2017 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. Bowcutt finished the regular season with 10 goals and eight assists and carries a 3.72 GPA as a film and media arts major. Rubas is a three-time First Team All-Patriot League selection, who finished with 12 goals and eight assists for 32 points this season. The Vienna, Austria native carries a 3.67 GPA, majoring in business administration and is a two-time NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad and Patriot League Honor Roll selection.
Boston University placed three student-athletes on the academic all-League team, including First Team All-Patriot League honoree Kali Shumock. She finished tied for the League-lead with nine assists, helping the Terriers capture their third-consecutive regular-season title. The Bethlehem, Pa. native also holds a 3.51 GPA with a major in health science and a minor in public health. She is a two-time NFHCA Academic Squad selection and three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection. Senior forward Grace Boston joins her with a 3.61 GPA, majoring in speech, language and hearing sciences. The three-time NFHCA Academic Squad honoree scored seven goals and added two assists during the regular-season. Junior goalkeeper Kathleen Keegan is the third Terrier on the squad, carrying a 3.66 GPA in business management and administration. The two-time NFHCA Academic Squad selection had a 1.42 goals against average and .727 save percentage this season.
Bucknell’s Rupnik makes her second appearance on the academic all-League team and is joined by teammate sophomore defender Marisa Morakis, who has a 4.0 GPA, majoring in biomedical engineering and was a NFHCA Division I Scholar of Distinction last season. The 2016 NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad choice scored two goals and had six assists for the Bison during her sophomore season.
Colgate senior goalkeeper Maria Krull, the 2017 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year, earns her first spot on the academic all-league team. The Leicester, Mass. native led the League in saves per game (9.71) and save percentage (.786) in addition to achieving a 3.36 GPA, while majoring in biology.
Lafayette sophomore defender Lisa van der Geest, a second-team all-League selection, makes her initial academic all-League squad. The Oegstgeest, Netherlands native finished the season with two goals and six assists. She has a 3.59 GPA midway through her sophomore year on College Hill.
Lehigh sophomore midfielder Amanda Boyer makes her debut on the academic all-League team, carrying a 4.0 GPA, as a molecular biology major. Boyer garnered Lehigh’s Faculty Athletics Council Award following her freshman season in addition to being named an NFHCA Scholar of Distinction. On the field, Boyer played in all 18 games and finished with one goal.
The Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for each individual sport comprises the pool of nominees for the Patriot League Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, given out over the summer. One male and one female are selected for this honor.
Corvias Patriot League Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Maura Jacobs, American (Jr.)
Field Hockey Academic All-Patriot League Team
Haley Bowcutt, American, Sr., F
Maura Jacobs, American, Jr., GK
Rafaela Rubas, American, Jr., M
Grace Boston, Boston University, Sr., F
Kathleen Keegan, Boston University, Jr., GK
Kali Shumock, Boston University, Sr., M
Marisa Morakis, Bucknell, So., D
Nicole Rupnik, Bucknell, Jr., F
Maria Krull, Colgate, Sr., GK
Lisa van der Geest, Lafayette, So., D
Amanda Boyer, Lehigh, So., M
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.