Teaming Up in the Classroom

SELINSGROVE, Pa. - The National Field Hockey Coaches Association has honored five Susquehanna players on the 2000 NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad, the organization announced on Monday.

Senior attack Ali Hughes, junior goalkeeper Kylie Cook, junior attack Jeannie Yarrow, sophomore midfielder Megan Patrono and sophomore attack Katie McKeever are among the athletes recognized for maintaining a 3.3 grade-point average while being starters or key reserves on their respective teams.

The five players helped the Crusaders to an 11-6 record during the 2000 season, including a 5-2 record in the Commonwealth Conference that was good for third place. The six losses were deceiving in the fact that five of the defeats came to teams that were ranked in the NFHCA Top 20 at the time of the game - including four losses to teams ranked in the top six. Susquehanna did break its year-old record for goals in a season (44) with 51 tallies in just 17 matches.

Hughes (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg H.S.), a 2000 AstroTurf/NFHCA South Atlantic Region first-team selection, was a three-time Commonwealth Conference All-Star during her Crusader career. She finished the season tied for second on the team in points with 16, on the strength of seven goals and two assists in 17 games, while her 34 shots on goal were tied for fourth-highest on the team.

The Crusaders went 6-0 for the season in games in which Hughes scored a goal. For her career, she scored 24 goals to rank fifth on the school's all-time list and added 17 assists - the second-highest total in Susquehanna history - for a total 65 points in 64 games which ranks second all-time to the 97 points amassed by Cheryl Irvine from 1992 to 1995.

An elementary education and psychology major with a 3.70 cumulative grade-point average, she is the daughter of Michael and Carol Hughes.

Cook (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon H.S.) is a two-time AstroTurf/NFHCA second-team South Atlantic Region selection and a two-time Commonwealth Conference first-team All-Star despite never played as a goalkeeper until her freshman year at Susquehanna.

She finished fifth in the Commonwealth Conference in both goals against average (1.76) and save percentage (.771) while participating in a total of five shutouts. In three years and 50 career matches, Cook has a 1.32 goals against average and a save percentage of .824.

An accounting major with a 3.79 cumulative grade-point average, she is the daughter of Rodney and Pamela Cook.

Yarrow (Lambertville, N.J./South Hunterdon Regional H.S.) was a Commonwealth Conference second-team All-Star after she scored five goals and dished out five assists for 15 points to finish tied for fifth on the team in scoring. She scored a pair of goals in Susquehanna's 4-1 win over Albright on October 7, and ranks eighth in school history with 19 career goals and fifth in points with 51.

A marketing major with a 3.32 cumulative grade-point average, she is the daughter of Kathleen and Walter Yarrow, Jr.

Patrono (West Milford, N.J./West Milford Township. H.S.) started all 16 games in which she played, and contributed two assists from her defensive position. She was part of a defense that had a 1.58 goals against average and posted five shutouts.

A broadcasting major, she is the daughter of Bruce and Marlen Patrono.

McKeever (Norristown, Pa./Methacton H.S.) played in all 17 games this season, starting 16 of them, and finished tied for second on the team in points with 16 on seven goals and two assists. In her first two seasons, McKeever has played in all 36 games and has 18 goals and five assists for 41 career points.

A public relations major with a 3.35 cumulative grade-point average, she is the daughter of Jay and Cathy McKeever.