DUDLEY, Mass. (March 29) – Six Nichols College field hockey student-athletes have been named to the 2009 Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad, it was announced March 25. In addition, the Nichols College field hockey team has earned the 2009 Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA DIII National Academic Team Award for the third straight year. Senior forward/midfielder Sara Bailey (Athol, Mass.), senior back Marie Kauker (Bellingham, Mass.), and junior midfielders Amber Cottrell (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.), and Courtney Flagg (Spofford, N.H.) were all named to the team for the third consecutive year. Junior midfielder Mary Kate Frodema (Springfield, Mass.) was named to the team for the second straight year. Freshman forward/midfielder Emily Widdison (Greenfield, Mass.) was also named to the team.
Bailey started 21 of 22 games and recorded eight goals and three assists for nineteen points during the season. She is an accounting and management major. Kauker started 19 games and played in 21, leading the conference’s best defense to a 1.21 goals against average and is an accounting and management major. Cottrell started 21 games and played in all 22 during the season. She had a goal and two assists for a total of four points and is a marketing and sport management major. Frodema played in all 22 games and started 21 of them. She was an All-TCCC Second Team selection with 10 points on the season knocking in four goals and two assists and is a general business major. Flagg played in eight games and started two while scoring three times. She is a psychology major. Widdison played in 22 games, starting 21 of them and was third on the team in points with 24 and second with 10 assists adding seven goals. She was named to the 2009 ECAC Division III New England Field Hockey All-Star Second Team, an All-TCCC First Team choice and is an international business and finance major.
Nichols finished the season with a program best 18-4 record overall and 7-1 in conference play. The Bison won the TCCC tournament and made their first-ever NCAA Championship Tournament appearance.