Moon Township, Pa. ? The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) announced today that Robert Morris University was one of 50 teams across the country that earned Academic Squad honors. In order to earn the award, each team has to collectively earn a GPA of at least 3.0.
As well as earning team honors, Robert Morris put six individuals on Academic Honor Roll. Current seniors Mary Kate Egan (Lynch, Md. / Kent), Kara Blakeley (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine Richland) and Victoria Gargon (Columbia, Md. / River Hill) were all named to the honor roll, while graduating seniors Brittanny Smith (Owen Sound, Ontario / West Hill Secondary), Nicole Runfola (Cumming, Ga. / South Forsyth) and Josephine Zizic (Chicago, Ill. / Culver Academy) also made the cut. This honor is given to individuals who earned a 3.2 GPA or higher and have at least junior year status.
“I am really proud of my team for working as hard in the classroom as they do on the field,” said head coach Katy Phillips. “It is a great honor for our team and it really shows the amount of dedication and hard work the girls put into their studies. There is a reason that student is the first word in student-athlete, and I am really glad my girls recognize that.”
Egan, who was a leading defender for RMU, also led her team academically with a 3.93 GPA as a nursing major, while teammate Blakeley carried a 3.64 GPA majoring in environmental science going into her senior year. Closing out the current seniors with academic honors is Gargon, a defender who owns a 3.52 GPA, also as an environmental science major.
Smith finished her education at Robert Morris with a 3.75 GPA while studying communications. Runfola earned a 3.54 GPA as a marketing major, while Zizic completed the health management program with a 3.52 GPA.
Robert Morris' six individuals earning the honor tied for the second-highest in the nation. The Colonials shared the honor with Marist and Vermont, while Iona College led the nation with eight individuals on the list.
