RICHMOND, VA -- The University of Delaware field hockey team had eight players named to the 2003 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I National Academic Squad, as was announced Wednesday.

Seniors Megan Henry (Boyertown, PA) and Jillian Stevens (Wilmington, DE), junior Leah Geib (Schwenksville, PA), and freshman Kaili Kao (State College, PA), Lindsey Piester (Fredericksburg, VA), Danielle Stevens (Wilmington, DE), Stephanie Swain (Middletown, DE) (right) and Dusti Vanderwerde (Greenwood, DE) were each honored for their outstanding achievement in the classroom for the Fall, 2003 semester.

Henry started all 21 games in the backfield for the Blue Hens this past season and started 55 of the 68 games she played in during her career, including 41 straight over the last two seasons. Jillian Stevens, meanwhile, played in seven games in 2003 and 29 in her career, registering one assist (vs. Wake Forest, 9/14/02).

Geib also started all 21 games for the Blue Hens this season, posting 10 points (2 G, 6 A) while playing both in the midfield and on defense. She capped off her best all-around season by earning All-Tournament honors at the 2003 Colonial Athletic Association Tournament and was also selected to the 2003 STX/NFHCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region Team.

Swain started all 21 games as a freshman, posting five points (2 G, 1 A) to finish second on the team in freshman scoring behind classmate Katie Evans (Newtown Square, PA), who had 21 points (8 G, 5 A). Kao, meanwhile, played in 18 games this past season, starting the final 16, while Danielle Stevens, the younger sister of Jillian, and Vanderwerde did not see playing time as they sat out their redshirt seasons.

The Blue Hens finished the 2003 season 14-7 (6-3 CAA), advanced to the finals of their conference tournament for the second time in three years and finished No. 17 in the final NFHCA Coaches Poll. They return nine starters next season, including junior Jessi Balmer (Telford, PA), who was an STX/NFHCA All-America Third team selection in 2003; junior Erica LaBar (New Castle, DE), who led the Blue Hens in scoring with 34 points (11 G, 12 A); and freshman goalkeeper Megan Allen (Virginia Beach, VA), who started all 21 games this season, finishing with a 1.84 goals against average and five shutouts. She was also named CAA Rookie of the Week three times.