University of New Hampshire Athletics
Four 'Cats Are NFHCA Scholars of Distinction
2/16/2026 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Four student-athletes on the University of New Hampshire field hockey team have earned high academic honors as 2025 NFHCA Division I Scholars of Distinction.
Senior Brecken Calcari (St. Louis, Mo.) has received this accolade all four years.
Sophomore Makayla Clark (Evanston, Ill.) has made this elite list both years as a collegian.
Senior captain Nicole Poulakis (Ajax, Ontario) and freshman Emily Layton (Harwick, Mass.) were both honored as Scholars of Distinction for the first time.
The NFHCA Scholars of Distinction celebrates student-athletes who achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher through the fall semester. A total of 341 outstanding undergraduate student-athletes were honored this year and that included more than 60 four-time honorees.
Calcari, Clark, Layton and Poulakis were four of the 10 Wildcats who were recently named to the 2025 NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad, which recognizes field hockey players with a 3.50 or higher cumulative GPA.
UNH earned a share of the 2025 regular-season America East title and won the tournament championship to earn an NCAA tourney berth – all firsts for the Wildcats since 2013. The 'Cats ended the season with 12 wins.
A Wildcat earned All-America Team accolades for the fourth consecutive year, and a 'Cat was named the America East Offensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive year. UNH also boasted three NFHCA Northeast Region Team and three All-ECAC Team selections.
Senior Brecken Calcari (St. Louis, Mo.) has received this accolade all four years.
Sophomore Makayla Clark (Evanston, Ill.) has made this elite list both years as a collegian.
Senior captain Nicole Poulakis (Ajax, Ontario) and freshman Emily Layton (Harwick, Mass.) were both honored as Scholars of Distinction for the first time.
The NFHCA Scholars of Distinction celebrates student-athletes who achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher through the fall semester. A total of 341 outstanding undergraduate student-athletes were honored this year and that included more than 60 four-time honorees.
Calcari, Clark, Layton and Poulakis were four of the 10 Wildcats who were recently named to the 2025 NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad, which recognizes field hockey players with a 3.50 or higher cumulative GPA.
UNH earned a share of the 2025 regular-season America East title and won the tournament championship to earn an NCAA tourney berth – all firsts for the Wildcats since 2013. The 'Cats ended the season with 12 wins.
A Wildcat earned All-America Team accolades for the fourth consecutive year, and a 'Cat was named the America East Offensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive year. UNH also boasted three NFHCA Northeast Region Team and three All-ECAC Team selections.
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