Bird, Hiltebeitel earn First Team All-MAAC honors

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After closing the books on their tremendous careers, seniors Rosie Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) and Kelsey Hiltebeitel (Warminster, Pa.) of the Bryant University field hockey team were each named to the All-MAAC First Team for the second-straight season, announced the conference Thursday evening.

Bird, a first-team forward, and Hiltebeitel, a first-team defender, have each earned a spot among the MAAC's best in its first two seasons sponsoring field hockey.

Bird, the former Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year and a four-time all-league selection, puts a bookend on one of the most prolific careers in program history. Despite missing four games due to injury, Bird still managed to lead the team in points and goal for the fourth-straight season, finishing the year with 22 points on 10 goals and a pair of assists in just 13 games. The senior's 103 career points, 46 goals, and 10 game-winning goals all rank first in Division I program history, while her 11 assists sit in the top five.

A three-time all-conference first team defender, Hiltebeitel wrapped up her Bryant career as one of the best defenders to ever don the Black and Gold. The anchor of the Bulldog defensive-unit over the past four seasons, Hiltebeitel's 69 career appearances and 66 starts both rank in the top 10 the Division I era, while her five defensive saves are fifth most in program history.

Bryant not only excelled on the field of play but, in the classroom as well, with seven Bulldogs earning MAAC All-Academic honors. Seniors Abigail Armstrong (Mahopac, N.Y.) and Emily Clark (Vienna, Va.), junior Mikayla Fitzmaurice (Skowhegan, Maine), and sophomores Emiko Barker (Hatfield, Mass.), Elena Borovskis (Pequannock, N.J.), Erin Karcher (Kennett Square, Pa.) and Samantha Yoder (Mount Joy, Pa.) all hold at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA while balancing a challenging Bryant curriculum and the rigors of being a Division I student-athlete.

For all the latest news on the Bryant University field hockey team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.