Isabella Pugliese ’20 earned All-American honors for her play in field hockey this season, headlining a long list of Bearcats who earned distinction for their play last season.

Pugliese was named to the third team high school All-American list by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. She is the third Bearcat in recent history to receive the honor, with the most recent being Hannah Leckey ’16.

In addition, Pugliese and Taylor Leckey ’20 were named to the southern New England all-region team by the NFHCA in the announcement, published late last month.

In her two years as a varsity midfielder, Pugliese has been an integral part of the success of the team, said head coach Kait Leonard. “She is a pivotal player in the midfield and a play maker on both ends of the field,” said Leonard. “Her knowledge of the game not only enables her to perform on an individual level, but also increases the level of play for those around her.”

Leckey, new to the team this year, has also been a key cog in the engine driving her team, said Leonard. “The power she has behind the ball, whether it be making a tackle, fighting for the 50/50 opportunities, taking a drive on a free hit or a shot on goal, is impressive to witness, and often difficult for other teams to adjust to,” she said.

In addition to being rewarded for their play on the field, six of Pugliese and Leckey’s teammates were honored for their work in the classroom, with Sandrine Brien ’20, Emily Ferguson ’20, Alisa Ghura ’19, Amanda Hill ’19, Abby Hillebrecht ’19, and Sarah Katherine Hurlock ’19 all being named to the National Academic Squad.

Hill and Hurlock were named Scholars with Distinction for exceptional academic performance.