Field Hockey

NESCAC Announces Nominees for NCAA Woman of the Year & DIIICA Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year

HADLEY, Mass. - Ten student-athletes have been nominated to represent the NESCAC as its NCAA Woman of the Year and Division III Commissioners Association (D3CA) Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year nominee. A committee of conference administrators will select the NESCAC's representative for the awards.
 
The NCAA Woman of the Year Award and the DIIICA Women's Sports Student-Athlete of the Year Awards honors graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service, and leadership. More information on the award and a list of previous winners can be found here.
 
Sydney Bluestein – Amherst Women’s Swimming & Diving
  • Bluestein graduated with distinction from Amherst with a 3.95 GPA as a mathematics major on a pre-med track. She was a Psi Upsilon Award winner, received a Presidential letter recognizing her athletic and academic achievements, was a three-time NESCAC All-Academic selection, a four-time CSCAA All-American Scholar, and an Academic All-American in 2024.
  • Bluestein was a dominant diver in the NESCAC, winning five individual conference titles, earning NESCAC Diver of the Year twice, and being a six-time All-NESCAC performer. On the national scene, Bluestein won an NCAA title on the 1-meter board in 2023, was a six-time All-American, and won the regional title on the 1-meter board as a junior and senior.
  • Outside of competing in the pool, Bluestein was an active member of the Amherst community. She interned at the Bishop Laboratory for three years, served as a Radical Hope guide, team captain, peer tutor, biology lab teaching assistant, and team representative on the Amherst SAAC.
  • Bluestein has secured a postgraduate position researching cystic fibrosis at Yale Medical School.
Anna Cote – Bates Field Hockey
  • As a biochemistry major, Cote graduated from Bates with a 3.63 GPA and was presented with the Bates Senior Scholar Award, selected by the Bates faculty for outstanding academic achievement. She was a four-time NFCA Division III National Academic Squad honoree and a three-time NESCAC All-Academic selection. In 2025, Cote was a College Sports Communicators Women’s At-Large Team All-District selection.
  • Off the field, Cote worked as both an EMT and an ER technician in Lewiston’s underserved neighborhoods. When an active shooter took the lives of 18 individuals a mile from campus during the fall of 2024, Cote helped the Bates field hockey team dedicate the game to the city, raised funds for victims’ families, and welcomed over 1,000 people. She facilitated a partnership between the field hockey team and Tree Street Youth, a local organization that supports underprivileged children, and introduced kids to field hockey - a sport many had never experienced. This effort created a space focused on fun and confidence over competition. Cote also volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, mentoring a third-grade girl.
  • Cote became just the second Bates field hockey player to earn All-America recognition twice in a career. A two-time All-NESCAC player, she was named to the NFHCA Division III Senior Team while leading the Bobcats to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
 Margie Carden – Tufts Women’s Lacrosse
  • Carden earned a degree in international relations with a concentration in international security while posting a 3.74 GPA and graduating with magna cum laude honors. She earned a spot on the Dean’s List every semester, was a three-time NESCAC All-Academic Team selection, a two-time College Sports Communicators All-District honoree, and a two-time IWLCA Academic Honor Roll member.
  • Carden served as a tutor for two girls via the Tutors for Hope program. The organization connects individuals battling terminal illnesses with others who can assist with schoolwork twice a week. She also served as the team liaison for Team Impact and coordinated a match that began with the 2024-25 season. She also assisted with Tufts’ National Girls & Women in Sports Day, the Jumbos’ Community Sports Day, Special Olympics events, and the Harlem Lacrosse organization.
  • Carden was a four-time IWLCA All-American and a four-time All-NESCAC performer. She helped Tufts finish as the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Division III National Runners-Up in 2025, as well as win the NESCAC title as a senior. At Tufts, Carden finished her career as the all-time leading scorer (334 points), all-time leader in goals (268) as the Jumbos posted a record of 72-15 during her four seasons.
  • Carden will continue her academic career as a J.D. candidate at Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law.
Julia Jardina – Colby Women’s Lacrosse
  • Jardina graduated with 3.94 GPA and cum laude honors from Colby as a neuroscience and Spanish major. A College Sports Communicators Academic All-American in 2024 and an All-District selection in 2025, Jardina was a three-time NESCAC All-Academic honoree. She was presented with Colby's Patty Valavanis '80 Award, given to a student-athlete on a women's team with outstanding qualities of athletic achievement, academic excellence, sportsmanship, and campus community involvement.
  • A team captain as a senior, Jardina participated in Colby’s National Girls & Women in Sports Day, became a mentor in the Colby Cares About Kids program, volunteered as the Maine General Hospital, served on the Colby Athletics Advisory Committee, was a Spanish Department Tutor, and was a Spanish linguistics volunteer while studying aboard in Sevilla, Spain.
  • A four-time All-American, Jardina led Colby to its first appearance in the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Final Four in 2025. She was also a three-time all-region and All-NESCAC player during her career. The Mules also reached the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament during Jardina’s time with the program. She finished her career as Colby’s all-time leader in draw controls (307).
  • Following graduation, Jardina was accepted to dental school.
Sydney Jones – Bowdoin Women’s Basketball
  • Jones graduated with a 3.58 GPA as a mathematics and computer science major and was a two-time NESCAC All-Academic selection.
  • Off the court, Jones was a co-leader of Bowdoin Women in Math, which developed a buddy system between math students in different grades. She participated in the Family Focus program as a senior, assisting with childcare for children under 16 weeks. Jones performed in various a cappella events, including as a soloist at Parents’ Weekend, and completed the Bowdoin Athletics LEAD Program.
  • Jones was the first player in conference history to earn NESCAC Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons. She was a two-time WBCA All-American and led the Polar Bears to back-to-back NESCAC titles. She finished her career as the only player in team history with 1,500 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists, and 200 steals.
  • Following graduation, Jones embarks on a coaching career at Stonehill College. 
Fiona Mejico – Colby Women’s Track & Field
  • The Spanish and sculpture major graduated from Colby with a 3.77 GPA. A two-time Dean’s List student, Mejico was a three-time NESCAC All-Academic Team member and earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.
  • Mejico served as a pottery club officer, a teaching assistant in the sculpture studio, and a dedicated ceramicist while at Colby. She was a panelist for National Girls and Women in Sports Day, as well as a team captain since her sophomore season.
  • An 11-time All-American, Mejico was a member of Colby’s 4x400 NCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championship relay in 2025 and a part of the Mules’ 4x200 relay that set an NCAA record. She earned USTAFCCCA All-Region accolades all four years as an indoor and outdoor track & field athlete and was All-NESCAC six times, including winning the 400-meter Hurdles at the 2025 NESCAC Championships.
Sahana Raman – Middlebury Women’s Tennis
  • Raman graduated from Middlebury with a degree in neuroscience with a pre-med track and a 3.83 GPA. A six-time Middlebury College Scholar honoree, Raman is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-American, two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete, and three-time NESCAC All-Academic honoree.
  • Off the court, Raman has been a volunteer with the Handi-Racket Tennis and Aceing Autism programs, helping adults and children with intellectual or physical disabilities learn to play tennis. She has volunteered at Porter Hospital, been a DEI leader for the women’s tennis program, a research assistant in the neuroscience lab, a hiring committee member for neuroscience faculty, and served on Middlebury’s SAAC.
  • Raman was a four-time ITA All-American and garnered the ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award in 2025. Raman began her career as the NESCAC Rookie of the Year and finished it as the NESCAC Player of the Year. During her career, she helped the Panthers reach the NCAA Semifinals twice and the quarterfinal round once. In 2025, Raman and her playing partner finished as the national runners-up in the NCAA Doubles Tournament.
Hope Shue – Middlebury Women’s Lacrosse
  • As a neuroscience major with a history minor, Shue graduated summa cum laude from Middlebury with a 4.00 GPA and was a Phi Betta Kappa inductee. She was the first women’s lacrosse athlete to earn the NCAA Elite 90 award, presented to the student-athlete at the NCAA Final Four with the highest cumulative GPA, three times. She was a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-American and a three-time NESCAC All-Academic Team selection.
  • Shue was a two-year leader of Middlebury’s Radical Health program, helped organize Community Suppers during her four years in Middlebury, participated in Middlebury’s Special Olympics programs, worked as an ADA Special Assistant, a MiddCORE Intern, and a Day Care Teacher.
  • A team captain as a senior, Shue helped Middlebury win four consecutive national championships, two NESCAC titles, and finished her career with a record of 89-2. She was the IWLCA National Player of the Year and Attacker of the Year in back-to-back seasons and a four-time IWLCA All-American. Shue was selected as the NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 and 2025 and earned All-NESCAC honors all four years.   
Sophia Verkleeren – Williams Women’s Swimming & Diving
  • A chemistry major, Sophia Verkleeren graduated from Williams with cum laude honors and a 3.91 GPA. An eight-time Dean’s List student, she was a four-time CSCAA Academic All-American, a three-time NESCAC All-Academic Team selection, and a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-American.
  • Verkleeren served as a Junior Advisor at Williams, where she assisted first-year students in their transition to college and the Williams community. She was also a economics and chemistry teaching assistant, a Williams Sports Information Office student worker, and a Turek Lab research assistant while also serving as a science instructor for elementary students. While studying abroad in Denmark, Verkleeren volunteered at a local organic farm.
  • A team captain as a senior, Verkleeren led Williams to back-to-back NESCAC titles in 2024 and 2025. She is the first swimmer in conference history to win NESCAC Swimmer of the Year three straight years and was the NESCAC Career High Point Swimmer in 2025. Verkleeren won 20 NESCAC titles over her four years, 10 in individual events and 10 as a member of an Ephs relay team. Nationally, Verkleeren won six NCAA titles and currently holds the Division III record in the 400 IM. She boasts 25 All-America citations and earned NCAA Swimmer of the Year honors in 2023. Verkleeren closed out her career owning seven school records and five NESCAC marks. Verkleeren was presented with the Williams Purple Key Award in 2025, which is the highest athletic award given by the College.
Alyssa Xu – Amherst Women’s Ice Hockey
  • Xu graduated summa cum laude and was a Phi Betta Kappa inductee at Amherst with a 3.99 GPA as a neuroscience major. She was presented with three Amherst College awards as a senior: James Olds Memorial Neuroscience Award – presented to a student whose neuroscience research was judged as the highest quality by the faculty; Manstein Family Award – presented to the outstanding senior varsity athlete who intends to pursue a career in medicine or medical field; Psi Upsilon Prize – presented to a member of the graduating class who is considered preeminent in scholarship, leadership, athletics, and character.
  • Xu was also a four-time AHCA Krampade All-American Scholar and a three-time NESCAC All-Academic Team honoree, as well as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District award winner in 2024.
  • On the ice, Xu helped the Mammoths win two NESCAC titles and reach the NCAA National Championship game in 2023 and 2025. Xu was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team and selected to the All-NESCAC Second Team as a senior.
  • Xu’s work off the ice included: Amherst women’s ice hockey DEI representative, Managing Editor of Bouncing Back - a platform dedicated to uplifting AAPI voices in athletics, President of Amherst’s Amnesty International chapter where she organized refugee justice film screenings to forged partnerships with local advocacy groups, and a member of the Amherst College Emergency Medical Services.
  • A Rhodes Scholar with plans to continue her studies at Oxford University, Xu was a research assistant/associate with several different projects at Amherst and beyond.