Four Hawks Named to All-Academic Teams

Four University of Hartford student-athletes were named to America East All-Academic Teams for spring sports, as announced by the conference on Wednesday.

Senior Matt Holman of the lacrosse team, senior Kerry Hassell of the women's golf team, and senior Samantha Morrison and junior Nikki Thompson of the softball team were among the student-athletes honored for their athletic and academic achievements.

Holman, who entered his final season with a 3.46 grade point average, ranked second on the lacrosse team in scoring in 2006 with 20 goals and 11 assists for 31 points. A two-year team co-captain and a four-year letter winner, he finished his career with 64 goals and 21 assists for 85 points. He is also a three-time America East Academic Honor Roll selection (3.0 GPA or higher) and a Commissioner's Honor Roll selection (3.5 GPA or higher) in 2003 and 2004.

Hassell, a four-year walk-on, enjoyed the best season of her career in 2005-06. She played in all 10 tournaments and wrapped up the season with a runner-up finish at the 2006 America East Women's Golf Championship, earning all-conference honors for the first time in her career. Her scoring average of 89.5 was also the best of her career. A two-time America East Academic Honor Roll selection (2004, 2005), she entered her final semester with a 3.52 grade point average.

Morrison turned out one of the best single seasons in school history. Hartford's starting center fielder and leadoff hitter batted a career-high .369 and led the team in hits (52), at-bats (141), runs (32), triples (6), RBI (25), total bases (78) and stolen bases (17). Her runs total was a school single season record and she tied the single season records for both triples and stolen bases. She was also named to the America East All-Conference First Team, the third time in her career she's earned all-conference honors. An America East Academic Honor Roll selection in 2003, she entered her final semester with a 3.15 grade point average.

Thompson, who entered the 2006 season with a 3.14 grade point average, continued to put up solid numbers for the Hawks as the starting catcher and cleanup hitter. She batted .306 this season while starting all 41 games and recorded a team-high 25 RBI. Her six home runs also led the Hawks and gave her 14 for her career, only four shy of the school record. Thompson, the conference's rookie of the year in 2004, also made her debut on the America East All-Conference First Team in 2006 after a pair of second-team selections the past two years. She is a two-time America East Academic Honor Roll selection (2004, 2005).

Each All-Academic Team has been selected based on the student-athlete's academic and athletic accomplishments. Academic achievement for consideration requires student-athletes to have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 entering the season. Athletic accomplishment standards vary between team sports and individual sports. For more information, please visit www.AmericaEast.com.