COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Five members of the Babson College field hockey program were recognized for their success in the classroom by being named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III National Academic Squad last week. 

Senior Laney Reed (West Chester, Pa.) and junior Samantha Kelly (Rowley, Mass.) were named to the National Academic Squad for the third season, while fellow junior Ashley Braren (Westwood, Mass.) and sophomore Lauren Golden (New Albany, Ohio) were both honored for the second time and junior Emma Smith (Kenilworth, Ill.) earned her first National Academic Squad accolade.

Sponsored by OPA Winning Teams, the NFHCA National Academic Squad program honors undergraduate student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher through the fall semester. More than 1,880 student-athletes from 147 institutions were recognized on this year's squad. 

In addition, Golden was named a NFHCA Division III Scholar of Distinction, which honors student-athletes who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or higher through the fall semester. This year's Scholars of Distinction includes 543 exceptional undergraduate student-athletes across Division III.

Reed started all 21 of her appearances for the Beavers and finished fourth on the team in scoring with career highs of six goals and 12 points, including five game-winning goals. She tallied the game-winner in overtime in an early-season victory over fourth-ranked Williams; she notched the only goal of the game in Babson's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament championship victory over No. 24 WPI on November 8; and she scored the only goal of the game in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal triumph over No. 7 Wesleyan on November 16.

Kelly appeared in four games off the bench as a forward for the Beavers. Braren made two starts in her 23 games and tied for sixth on the team in scoring with a career high 11 points on a career-high five goals and one assist. She had the game-winning goal against Mount Holyoke in late September as well as goals in wins over Trinity, Smith, Clark and Wheaton.

Golden was one of five players to start all 24 games for the Beavers while Smith started 23 games for the Green and White. The two played along the back line and helped a Babson defense that allowed just 22 goals and ranked 13th in Division III with a 0.89 team goals against average. Golden also contributed goals in back-to-back wins over the University of New England and Wheaton and Smith scored her only goal in the victory at Trinity.

Babson captured its 10th consecutive NEWMAC regular season title and fifth straight conference tournament championship and concluded the season at 22-2 overall after advancing to the NCAA Tournament semifinals for the second time in three years and third time since 2017.