Liberty Field Hockey Features 4 NFHCA Scholars of Distinction

NFHCA Release

Ashley Dykema-Pereira, Ellie Livingston, Reagan Underwood and Maddie Vicars of the Liberty field hockey squad were recognized as 2021 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I Scholars of Distinction.

Each student-athlete received the honor for achieving a cumulative grade-point average of 3.90 or higher through the first semester of the 2021-22 academic year. They are four of more than 280 Division I field hockey players in the country to garner the distinction.

Underwood and Vicars are both being honored as NFHCA Scholars of Distinction for a second straight year, while Dykema-Pereira and Livingston received the award for the first time in their respective careers.

Underwood was the recipient of the prestigious Elite 90 award for field hockey, given to the student-athlete with the top GPA at the 2021 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championships. The sophomore midfielder started all 23 games for Liberty during the 2021 campaign, tallying three goals, seven assists and 13 points. Underwood, native of Sinking Spring, Pa., is majoring in digital media & journalism: video editing and is also a two-time NFCHA National Academic Squad honoree.

Vicars, a sophomore defender from Moseley, Va., is majoring in accounting. She appeared in four games during the 2021 season. Vicars is also a two-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member.

Dykema-Pereira, a redshirt senior from Newport News, Va., started all 23 games as a defender in her final season with the Lady Flames in 2021. She recorded two assists on the year and helped Liberty tally seven shutouts. Dykema-Pereira, a 2019 Division I All-America second team honoree and five-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport management in May 2021 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sport management.

Livingston, a freshman forward from Lancaster, Pa., was also named a NFHCA National Academic Squad member last week. She appeared in her first career game versus Villanova, Oct. 8. Livingston is a chemistry major.

The NFHCA will announce its NFHCA Division I National Academic Team Awards next Monday. The NFHCA Division I National Scholar-Athlete will be announced a week from today (Feb. 23).