Completed Event: Field Hockey at North Carolina on November 16, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 2 , OT
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Final
Field Hockey
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at North Carolina
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Photo by: Duke Athletics
Duo Garners NFHCA Scholar of Distinction Honors
2/15/2022 1:45:00 PM | Field Hockey
DURHAM – Duke field hockey's Alayna Burns and MaryKate Neff have been honored with NFHCA Division I Scholars of Distinction honors the National Field Hockey Coaches Association announced Tuesday.
Duke is one of four ACC programs to have a player recognized, joining Virginia, Louisville and Syracuse.
The Scholars of Distinction program recognizes student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.9 or higher through the first semester of the 2021-22 academic year.
Burns, a sophomore, garnered her second Scholar of Distinction recognition. The native of Medford, N.J., played in 10 games last season, registering a goal and an assist for three points. A two-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member, Burns has played in 26 career games and has three goals and two assists for eight points.
Neff, a graduate student transfer from Princeton, excelled and off the field for the Blue Devils in 2021. The Villanova, Pa., native was a mainstay for Duke in the midfield, starting all 17 games and playing nearly every minute en route to earning NFHCA All-South Region recognition. A key member of the penalty corner group, Neff tied for the team lead in points in 2021 with 13 off four goals and five assists. She scored the game winners at James Madison and Boston University.
For her career, the three-time all-region choice and two-time All-Ivy selection played in 77 career games and started 76 of those. She finished her career with 54 points from 21 goals and 12 assists.
#GoDuke
Duke is one of four ACC programs to have a player recognized, joining Virginia, Louisville and Syracuse.
The Scholars of Distinction program recognizes student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.9 or higher through the first semester of the 2021-22 academic year.
Burns, a sophomore, garnered her second Scholar of Distinction recognition. The native of Medford, N.J., played in 10 games last season, registering a goal and an assist for three points. A two-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member, Burns has played in 26 career games and has three goals and two assists for eight points.
Neff, a graduate student transfer from Princeton, excelled and off the field for the Blue Devils in 2021. The Villanova, Pa., native was a mainstay for Duke in the midfield, starting all 17 games and playing nearly every minute en route to earning NFHCA All-South Region recognition. A key member of the penalty corner group, Neff tied for the team lead in points in 2021 with 13 off four goals and five assists. She scored the game winners at James Madison and Boston University.
For her career, the three-time all-region choice and two-time All-Ivy selection played in 77 career games and started 76 of those. She finished her career with 54 points from 21 goals and 12 assists.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
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