Kirkpatrick Selected to 2026 Academic All-America At-Large Second Team

Kutztown University field hockey student-athlete Olivia Kirkpatrick was named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators NCAA Division II Academic All-America Women's At-Large Second Team.

Kirkpatrick has already reached senior status academically while pursuing a degree in psychology, but just completed her redshirt sophomore season on the field this past fall -her first with the Golden Bears. She had a 3.96 cumulative grade point average at the time of her nomination.

The Annville, Pa., native made an immediate impact for KU and head coach Marci Scheuing. She started all 22 games on defense for a Golden Bear team that produced a school record 20 victories (20-2), ranked in the top two of the NFHCA Division II national rankings the entire season and advanced to the NCAA DII semifinals.

Kutztown registered 12 shutouts, leading NCAA DII in shutouts per game (0.55) and goals against average (0.68). Kirkpatrick also contributed to the team's offense as a key piece on penalty corners, totaling seven goals, five assists, 19 points and 28 shots (19 on goal). She was a perfect 4-of-4 on penalty strokes and added a defensive save.

Kirkpatrick was recognized as the PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year, while being named All-PSAC First Team, NFHCA All-Atlantic Region First Team and NFHCA All-America First Team.

Academically, she is a two-time NFHCA Scholar of Distinction and NFHCA National Academic Honor Squad member, receiving both honors at Liberty University in 2023 and Kutztown in 2025. Kirkpatrick was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Athletics Honor Society in 2026. She's also a 2025-26 PSAC Scholar-Athlete and three-time KU Dean's List student.

Kirkpatrick is Kutztown's 12th CSC Academic All-America Women's At-Large selection all-time and 10th from the field hockey program. The At-Large teams are the toughest and most competitive to make due to encompassing multiple sports that do not have their own CSC Academic All-America teams. Eligible NCAA-sponsored women's sports for the At-Large teams include beach volleyball, bowling, crew/rowing, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, water polo and wrestling.