Athletics 2/4/2026 3:00:00 PM Six Standouts Named 2025-26 Fall Scholar-Athletes BOSTON – The 2025-26 America East Fall Scholar-Athletes were announced by the conference office on Wednesday afternoon. These six-standout student-athletes, from four different America East schools, have displayed excellence both academically and athletically throughout their collegiate careers. 2025-26 America East Fall Scholar-Athletes Men’s Cross Country: Zachary Hooper, Sr. - New Hampshire The senior owns a perfect 4.00 GPA as a Neuroscience and Behavior major Raced to 20th at the America East Championship and placed 19th at the New England Championships Finished the year as UNH’s top racer in all six of his competitions. Earned XC All-Academic honors each of the past two years. Women’s Cross Country: Helen Shearer, R-Sr. - Maine The senior has a 3.95 GPA as an Exercise Science and French double major. Finished 6th at the 2025 America East Championship and helped Maine clinch its first-ever women’s cross country title. Earned a runner-up finish at the New England Championship and placed 41st in the NCAA Regionals. Named to the 2025 All-Academic Team. Field Hockey: Nicole Poulakis, New Hampshire The senior has a 3.90 GPA as a Sport Management and Leadership major. NFHCA Second Team All-American, First-Team All-Region selection and #AEFH Offensive Player of the Year. Ranked 3rd in the nation in goals per game (1.21) and 4th in points per game (2.84) while leading UNH to the 2026 #AEFH Championship. Three-time member of #AEFH All-Academic Team. Men’s Soccer: David Ismail, Sr. – Vermont The senior Business Administration major owns a 3.84 GPA. 2025 United Soccer Coaches Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-Region selection. Named America East Most Outstanding Player after leading UVM to the #AEMSOC Championship, an unbeaten regular season and No. 1 national ranking. Named to 2025 All-Academic Team. Women’s Soccer: Abbi Maier, Sr., New Hampshire The senior has a 3.98 GPA as a Health Sciences major. Named 2025 #AEWSOC Co-Midfielder of the Year and to the All-Region Third Team. Earned 2025 First-Team All-Conference honors Named to 2025 All-Academic Team. Volleyball: Ariana Ugolini, Sr. - Bryant The senior has a 3.86 GPA as a Global Supply Chain Management major. AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and All-Region Honorable Mention 2025 #AEVB Player of the Year and three-time First-Team All-Conference selection. Named to 2025 All-Academic Team The Scholar-Athletes were members of teams in the six championship sports which America East sponsored in the fall season including men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball. Nominees were put forward by their institution, which could nominate up to one student-athlete per sport, then voted upon by the conference's Student-Athlete Engagement committee. Each America East Scholar-Athlete was a projected starter or prominent reserve and carries a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.50. Sport Scholar-Athletes are automatically eligible for the America East Female or Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, which will be announced in July. America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country, which honors over two-thirds of its student-athletes for their success in the classroom. ABOUT AMERICA EAST Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast. - America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -