GLEN ALLEN, VA -- Six members of the 2006 University of Delaware field hockey squad have been selected to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I National Academic Squad.

Selected to the team were junior back Molly Burke, senior midfielder Kaili Kao (at right), freshman forward Tori Karsten, freshman goalkeeper Stephanie Loizeaux, senior back Lindsey Piester, and senior forward Dusti Vanderwende.

The four were among over 500 student-athletes from 76 schools nationwide who were honored for achieving at least a 3.30 grade point index for the 2006 fall semester. Delaware posted a cumulative team grade point index of 2.98 for the fall, just missing earning a NFHCA Academic Team Award.

Burke, a junior from Southbury, CT (Pomperaug HS), carries a 3.27 cumulative grade point index as a human services major with a minor in psychology. A two-time member of the Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, Burke has played in 53 career games with 52 starts and scored 16 goals. She was a first-team All-CAA and second team All-Region selection in 2005 and a CAA All-Rookie pick in 2004. She scored seven goals this past season.

Karsten, a freshman from River Forest, IL (Oak Park River Forest), posted a 3.667 grade point index during the fall semester as an elementary education major. She enjoyed an outstanding freshman season in 2006, earning CAA All-Rookie honors and ranking among the team’s leading scorers with three goals and two assists.

Kao (pronounced “gow”), a senior co-captain from State College, PA (State College HS), carries a cumulative 3.817 grade point index as an international relations and east Asian studies major with a minor in business, French, and business administration. A four-time member of the NFHCA National Academic Squad, she is also a four-time member of the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and a two-time Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar Award recipient. She started all 19 games in 2006 and had one goal and three assists and for her career scored four goals in 69 games with 51 starts.

Loizeaux (pronounced “low-wah-zo”), a freshman from Flemington, NJ (Hunterdon Central HS), posted a 3.111 grade point index as a undeclared major this past fall. She served as the team’s No. 3 goalkeeper behind veteran Megan Allen and Nikki Rhodes.

Piester, a senior from Fredericksburg, VA (Stafford HS), carried a cumulative 3.287 grade point index as an accounting major with a minor in management information systems at Delaware. She is a three-time member of the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and has earned the NFHCA Award for the third time. She has played in 59 career games with 22 starts and scored two goals.

Vanderwende (pronounced “vander-wendy”), a senior from Greenwood, DE (Woodbridge HS) carries a cumulative grade point average of 3.549 as an animal science major with minors in French and biology. A three-year team member, she appeared in 12 career games in a backup roll. She is a fourth-time member of the NFHCA National Academic Team and a four-time CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll recipient.

The Blue Hens, who captured the 2004 CAA title, posted a record of 7-12 a year ago and advanced to the CAA quarterfinals under 14-year head coach Carol Miller.