Southern New Hampshire University Athletics
Week at a Glance (April 17-23, 2023)

Female Athlete of the Week: Bennie Alula - Women's Track & Field - Gr.
Bennie Alula (Hartford, Conn.) set a new PR of 45.91m in the hammer throw Saturday at the George Davis Invitational, hosted by the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Alula's toss was the second best throw in the East Region among DII athletes. She also set a new PR in the discus on Saturday at 32.58m.

Male Athlete of the Week: Cristian Mercedes - Baseball - R-Jr., 3B
Cristian Mercedes (Providence, R.I.) went 9-for-15 (.600) with seven extra-base hits, including five home runs, 12 RBI, seven runs scored and a pair of walks, while slashing .647/1.733/2.380 and making 10 errorless plays in the field, during a 4-0 week for the Penmen. Mercedes homered in all four games and had multiple hits in three of them. His top performance came in a 23-2 game-two victory over Saint Michael's on Saturday when he went 4-for-4 with two home runs, seven RBI, three runs scored and a double. Mercedes, who owns a 10-game hitting streak, was named the NE10 Player of the Week earlier Monday.

Softball (16-18, 9-9 NE10)

Last Week's Results:
4/19 vs. Saint Michael's - W, 9-2
4/19 vs. Saint Michael's - W, 3-1
4/22 at Assumption - W, 4-1
4/22 at Assumption - W, 1-0
This Week's Games:
4/24 at American Int'l - 2:30 p.m.
4/24 at American Int'l - 4:30 p.m.
4/28 vs. Southern Connecticut - 2 p.m.
4/28 vs. Southern Connecticut - 4 p.m.
4/29 vs. New Haven - 2:30 p.m.
4/29 vs. New Haven - 4:30 p.m.

Notes:
- Softball went 4-0 last week, sweeping a doubleheader from Saint Michael's College on Wednesday and another one at Assumption University on Saturday.
- Senior Bryn Garczynski (Norwood, Mass.) went 5-for-13 (.385) with two RBI and two runs scored. She also walked three times and was on base at a .500 clip. In the 9-2 victory over Saint Michael's in the opener, Garczynski was 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.
- Junior Ari Ferrier (Middleboro, Mass.) hit .364 (4-11) with five RBI, three runs and a pair of walks, while slashing .429/.455/.884. Ferrier collected a hit in each of the four contests and drove in two in the 3-1, game-two victory against Saint Michael's, and two more in the 4-1 victory versus the Greyhounds in game one.
- Junior Bella Dickinson (Scarborough, Maine) batted .308 (4-13) with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored and a trio walks, while putting together a slash line of .438/.615/1.053. In game two against Saint Michael's, Dickinson was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and a run scored. She was 1-for-3 with the long-ball, an RBI and a run scored in a 1-0 victory over Assumption in game two.
- Junior Leine McKechnie (Passadumkeag, Maine) went 1-0 with a save and a 0.00 ERA in two appearances. She did not allow a run over eight innings, while giving up four hits, striking out five and walking a pair. McKechnie allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth in the second game against the Purple Knights, before twirling a complete-game shutout in game two versus the Greyounds, giving up just three hits, while striking out five and walking two.
- Sophomore Gwyn Hammond (Los Angeles, Calif.) was 2-0 in her two starts, flashing a 0.50 ERA, as she fired a pair of complete games. She gave up three runs – one earned – on 11 hits, while fanning five and walking just one, over 14 innings. She allowed two runs – both unearned – on seven hits, while punching out a pair, in game one against the Purple Knights. In the opener against the Greyhounds, she allowed just one run on four hits, while striking out three and walking one.
- Sophomore Hannah DeRock (Hunt, N.Y.) was 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in her one start, relinquishing one run on three hits over six innings of game two against Saint Michael's. 

Baseball (33-8, 20-0 NE10)

Last Week's Results:
4/21 at Saint Michael's - W, 16-4
4/21 at Saint Michael's - W, 4-1 (7 inn.)
4/22 at Saint Michael's - W, 10-1 (7 inn.)
4/22 at Saint Michael's - W, 23-2
This Week's Games:
4/28 vs. Franklin Pierce - 6 p.m.
4/29 vs. Franklin Pierce - 2 p.m.
4/29 vs. Franklin Pierce - 5 p.m.
4/30 vs. Franklin Pierce - 1 p.m.

Notes:
- Baseball, ranked 15th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) NCAA Division II Top 25 and 26th in the Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season NCAA Division II Poll, went 4-0 last week, to extend its winning streak to a program-best 22 games, which is also the longest active streak in the nation, regardless of division. The Penmen outscored Saint Michael's College, 53-8, in sweeping doubleheaders Friday and Saturday.
- Redshirt-junior Cristian Mercedes (Providence, R.I.) went 9-for-15 (.600) with seven extra-base hits, including five home runs, 12 RBI, seven runs scored and a pair of walks, while slashing .647/1.733/2.380 and making 10 errorless plays in the field. Mercedes homered in all four games and had multiple hits in three of them. His top performance came in a 23-2 game-two victory Saturday when he went 4-for-4 with two home runs, seven RBI, three runs scored and a double. Mercedes, who owns a 10-game hitting streak, was named the NE10 Player of the Week earlier Monday.
- Junior Nick Schwartz (Massapequa, N.Y.) went 4-for-14 (.429) three RBI, seven runs scored and a pair of doubles, slashing .467/.571/1.038. He was 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored in Friday's 16-4, game-one win, and then went 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in game two Saturday.
- Freshman Jake Pisano (Hamden, Conn.) was 3-for-7 (.429) with two home runs, two RBI and three runs scored. He homered in both ends of Friday's doubleheader.
- Junior Cam Caraher (Plymouth, Mass.) hit .417 (5-12) with a home run, four RBI, six runs scored, two doubles and three walks, as he crafted a slash line of .533/.833/1.366. He went 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts. Caraher was 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in game one Friday. He had two hits in both games of Saturday's doubleheader, including a 2-for-2 performance in game two with a pair of doubles, two RBI and three runs.
- Junior Mike La Rocca (Vero Beach, Fla.) batted .400 (4-10) with a home run, five RBI, five runs scored and five walks, while slashing .625/.700/1.325. In Saturday's 10-1 victory in the opener, La Rocca was 2-for-3 with a grand slam, five RBI and a run scored.
- Junior Danniel Rivera (New Britain, Conn.) hit .333 (4-12) with two home runs, five RBI, five runs scored and three walks. He posted a slash line of .467/.833/300 and was a perfect 3-for-3 stealing bases. Rivera was 2-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI, two runs scored and a walk in Friday's opener. He has hit safely in 24 of his last 25, including 17 straight.
- Sophomore Frankie Sanchez (Kendall Park, N.J.) began the series Friday with seven scoreless frames, giving up just four hits, while fanning four and not walking a batter.
- Graduate student Josh Roberge (Chelmsford, Mass.) collected the win in Friday's 4-1 victory in game two with a seven-inning, complete game. Roberge allowed one run on seven hits, while striking out a career-high 15 and walking three.
- Senior Jeffrey Praml (Bridgewater, N.J.) relinquished just one run on seven hits, while punching out eight and walking one in Saturday's game-one victory to improve to 9-1.
Junior Brandon White (Simsbury, Conn.) won game two Saturday to move to 6-1 with five shutout innings, allowing just three hits, while striking out four and not issuing a walk.

Women's Lacrosse (8-5, 4-5 NE10)

Last Week's Results:
4/18 at Saint Michael's - W, 21-7
4/22 vs. #21 Assumption - L, 16-17 (OT)
This Week's Games:
4/29 at #6 Le Moyne - 11 a.m.

Notes:
- Women's lacrosse, ranked 25th in the latest ILWomen/Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Poll, split a pair of games last week. The Penmen tripled up Saint Michael's College, 21-7, Tuesday, then suffered a 17-16 overtime heartbreak to 21st-ranked Assumption University on Saturday.
- Junior Shelby Cole (Gilford, N.H.) registered 12 points on nine goals and three assists, while adding four draw controls, three ground balls and three caused turnovers. Cole tallied six goals, two assists, three draw controls, two ground balls and two caused turnovers at Saint Michael's and added three goals, an assist, one draw control, one ground ball and one caused turnover against Assumption.
- Senior Skylar Renaud (E. Waterboro, Maine) scored seven goals and dished two assists for nine points, while winning 15 draw controls, collecting four ground balls and causing two turnovers. Renaud found the back of the net and added two ground balls, four draw controls and a pair of caused turnovers at Saint Michael's, before erupting for six goals and two assists to match a career high with eight points. She also gathered 11 draw controls and a pair of ground balls.
- Senior Angelina Graziano (Riverhead, N.Y.) tallied eight points on five goals and three assists, to go with four ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers. Graziano had four goals, two assists, a ground ball, and two caused turnovers against the Purple Knights, before tallying a goal and an assist. Her goal was the 100th of her career.
- Junior Megan Petko (Monroe, N.Y.) made six saves on 22 shots over 76:42, stopping three of the eight shots she saw in the opening half at Saint Michael's and making another three saves over the final 46:42 against the Greyhounds.
- Freshman Megan Mollman (Chester, Md.) stopped six of the 14 bids she faced in 48:26, turning away three of five in the second half against the Purple Knights, before making three saves on nine shots over the opening 18:26 of the Assumption contest.

Men's Lacrosse (6-4, 5-4 NE10)

Last Week's Results:
4/19 vs. Franklin Pierce - W, 13-12 (OT)
4/22 vs. Saint Michael's - W, 10-9 (OT)
This Week's Games:
4/25 at Bentley - 7 p.m.
4/29 at TBD - TBA (NE10 Championship first round)

Notes:
- Men's Lacrosse, receiving votes in the latest United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA)/Dynamic Division II Coaches Poll, won a pair of overtime thrillers last week. The Penmen defeated Franklin Pierce University, 13-12, Wednesday and then rallied for a 10-9 win Saturday against Saint Michael's College.
- Senior Ryan Auger (Hampstead, N.H.) notched eight points on four goals and four assists. He scored twice and set up three goals, including the overtime winner, against Franklin Pierce. Auger scored two goals, including the OT winner, and dished a helper, versus Saint Michael's.
- Graduate student Tristan Pietz (Dudley, Mass.) also recorded four goals and four helpers. He tallied two goals, including the overtime winner, and three assists against the Ravens, before adding two goals and an assist versus the Purple Knights.
- Grad student Chris Valentine (Derry, N.H.) scored six goals. He netted four of them against Franklin Pierce, including the 100th of his career, as he became the ninth Penmen to reach the milestone.
- Junior Jack Terrones (Anaheim, Calif.) also found the back of the net six times. He struck four times against the Ravens and twice against the Purple Knights.
- Junior Ronan DePaul (Elkton, Md.) stopped 27 of the 48 shots he faced. He turned away 19 of 31 versus FPU and then made eight saves on 17 bids against SMC.

Women's Track & Field

Last Week's Results:
4/22 at George Davis Invitational - NTS
This Week's Games:
4/29 at Skyhawk Invitational

Notes:
- Women's track & field competed at the no-team-scoring George Davis Invitational on Saturday at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
- Graduate student Bennie Alula (Hartford, Conn.) set a new PR of 45.91m in the hammer throw, showing as the second best throw in the East Region among D2 athletes.  She also set a new PR in the discus on Saturday at 32.58m.
- Graduate student Ashley Corcoran (East Longmeadow, Mass.) set a new PR in the 1500m at 4:33.90, showing as the fastest time in the East Region, and breaking her own program record for the distance.
- Junior Kaitlyn O'Rourke (Braintree, Mass.) won the 3000 Steeplechase in 11:33.26. 
- Junior Kelsey Seamans (Methuen, Mass.) ran second in the 5000, setting a new PR at 17:50.58, which was also a top effort by an NE10 athlete.
- Freshman Jia Anderson-Salo (Alstead, N.H.) ran a new PR for the 800m at 2:38.95.
- Freshman Brooke Bibbo (Burlington, Mass.) set a new PR in the shot put (11.57m) and also finished ninth in the discus (34.58m).
- Graduate student Tatyanna Beckford (Orange, N.J.) set a new personal best with 11.37m in the shot put and also finished ninth in the javelin (33.43m).
- Junior Tori Limone (Stoneham, Mass.) came in fourth in the javelin with a season-best toss of 38.05m – and a top performance by an NE10 athlete.
- Junior Emma Hallet (Billerica, Mass.) turned in a new PR in the long jump at 5.21m

Women's Tennis (14-3, 9-0 NE10)

Last Week's Results:
Idle
This Week's Matches:
3/25 vs. Endicott - 3 p.m.

Notes:
- Women's tennis was idle last week and wraps its regular season Tuesday (3 p.m.) when it plays host to Endicott College.
- The team received its seventh NCAA Championship berth and first since 2017 earlier Monday. The fourth-seeded Penmen will open against the fifth-seeded University of the District of Columbia on Monday, May (12 p.m.) at Wilmington (Del.) University.

Men's Tennis (14-5, 5-1 NE10)

Last Week's Results:
4/17 vs. Daemen - W, 7-0
4/20 at Adelphi - W, 4-1 (NE10 Championship semifinal)
4/23 at Le Moyne - W, 4-2 (NE10 Championship final)
This Week's Matches:
4/28 at Jefferson - 1 p.m. (NCAA first round)

Notes:
- Men's tennis went 3-0 last week, closing its regular season with a 7-0 victory against Daemen University on Monday, before scoring a 4-1 NE10 semifinal win at second-seeded Adelphi University on Thursday and then a 4-2 triumph at top-seeded Le Moyne College on Sunday to claim its sixth NE10 title and first since 2019.
- The team collected its 10th NCAA Championship appearance earlier Monday. The third-seeded Penmen will play at second-seeded Jefferson University on Friday (1 p.m.).
- Sophomore Jonathan Berling (Moss, Norway) was a perfect 6-0, including 3-0 in singles play. Berling defeated Daemen's Alex Lumanog at No. 1 singles, 7-5, 6-2, outlasted Adelphi's Hugo Munoz Reinoso, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4) at No. 2 singles and recorded a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 2 against Le Moyne's Manuel Righi. Berling also combined with graduate student Fernando Torres (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico) to go 3-0 at No. 1 doubles. The duo made quick work of Daemen's Lumanog and Luis de Vuyst, 6-1, breezed past Adelphi's Munoz Reinoso and Gabriel Balestero, 6-1, and then doubled up Le Moyne's Righi and Peter Hatton, 6-3.

Men's Golf

Last Week's Results:
Idle
This Week's Events:
4/24 at Atlantic-East Region Preview
4/25 at Atlantic-East Region Preview

Notes:
- Men's golf was idle last week and closes its regular season Monday and Tuesday at the Atlantic-East Region Preview at the Iron Valley Golf Club in Lebanon, Pa.

Completed Seasons

Women's Soccer (6-6-5, 3-4-5 NE10)

Notes:
- Women's soccer finished 6-6-5, including 3-4-5 in the NE10, and earned the No. 8 seed for the NE10 Championship. The Penmen traveled to the top-seeded College of Saint Rose for the quarterfinal round and suffered a 3-0 defeat.
- The Penmen did enough, however, to collect their eighth NCAA Championship berth, including fifth straight. SNHU collected the No. 7 seed and traveled to play second-seeded Franklin Pierce University in the opening round of the NCAA East Regional, absorbing a 3-1 loss.
-SNHU began the season 5-0-0 for the second straight campaign and just the third time since 1994.
- Junior Alyssa Anderson (Londonderry, N.H.) and graduate student Ai Inoue (Tokyo, Japan) were selected to the NE10 All-Conference Third Team, while freshman Georgia Greene (Clifton Park, N.Y.) received an All-Rookie Team nod.

Men's Soccer (8-6-4, 5-3-3 NE10)

Field Hockey (8-11, 7-6 NE10)

Women's Volleyball (19-8, 9-3 NE10)

Notes:
- Women's volleyball put together a historic season, finishing 19-8 to set a new program record for wins that surpassed the 1986 squad. The Penmen qualified for the NE10 Championship for just the sixth time, won their first NE10 postseason match, hosted an NE10 postseason match for the first time, received their first NCAA postseason berth, claimed their first NCAA postseason victory, captured their first NCAA East Region title and advanced to the NCAA National Championships in Seattle for the first time, falling to top-seeded and nine-time NCAA National Champion Concordia University, St. Paul in an NCAA Championship quarterfinal match.
- Redshirt-junior Ana Pimenta (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) earned NE10 All-Conference Second Team honors, while graduate student Sara Montefameglio (Turin, Italy) and sophomore Deanne Wilson (Buffalo, N.Y.) were recognized with Third Team nods.

Cross Country

Notes:
- Women's cross country turned its best season in program history, winning its first NE10 Championship and NCAA East Region titles, as part of a four-win campaign out of the seven meets they competed in. The squad made the NCAA National Championship for just the second time (2019) and finished 32nd at Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place, Wash., while placing first among East Region teams.
- Graduate student Ashley Corcoran (East Longmeadow, Mass.) claimed individual NE10 (21:26.7) and NCAA East Region (21:55.4) crowns, while finishing 88th, and first of the 23 runners from the East Region taking part in the race, at Nationals (21:57.0). Those three runs slot into the program record book as the third-, seventh- and eighth-fastest 6Ks.
- Corcoran was named the USTFCCCA East Region Athlete of the Year, as well as the NE10 Athlete of the Year, while head coach Rich Marcello was tabbed the USTFCCCA East Region Coach and NE10 Coach of the Year. Freshman Corrina Obernesser (Westminster, Colo.) was selected as the NE10 Rookie of the Year.
- Corcoran was joined on the NE10 All-Conference First Team by juniors Kelsey Seamans (Methuen, Mass.) and Hannah Bradbury (Seekonk, Mass.). Junior Kaitlyn O'Rourke (Braintree, Mass.) claimed a spot on the Second Team, with graduate student Rose Pitman (Sherill, N.Y.) and senior Sarah Zarakotas (Deerfield, N.H.) receiving Third Team accolades.
- The men captured one win, but finished in the top five four times this season. They were fourth at the NE10 Championships and fifth at the NCAA East Regionals to narrowly miss out on an NCAA National Championship berth.
- Graduate student Jacob Logan (Norwood, Mass.) placed third at NE10s (25:03.1) and second at the NCAA East Regional (31:41.1) to qualify for Nationals as an individual. He finished in a time of 31:21.10 to place 108th. The mark set a new personal best for Logan by 20 seconds and was just four seconds shy of matching the school record. It stands as the third fastest 10k in school history. Logan was the first of 24 runners representing the East region to finish.
- Logan was chosen as an NE10 All-Conference First Team honoree, while freshman Dillon Labonte (Lee, N.H.) and sophomore Carter Sylvester (Northwood, N.H.) were named to the Second Team.

Women's Basketball (22-8, 15-5 NE10)

Notes:
- Women's basketball crafted another terrific season, matching the program record for wins from 1989-90 by going 22-8, including 15-5 in league play. It marked the first time the program had ever posted back-to-back 20 win seasons after capturing 21 victories a year ago.
- The Penmen earned the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye in the NE10 Championship, where it advanced out of the quarterfinal round for the first time and eventually claimed a spot in the NE10 title game. SNHU hosted the NE10 final, but fell to Bentley University, 61-49.
-Southern New Hampshire received an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship tournament – its fourth ever and second straight – earning the No. 2 seed. The team posted the program's first NCAA postseason victory before falling in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II East Regional.
- Senior Adriana Timberlake (Braintree, Mass.) was crowned a Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America Honorable Mention. Timberlake was also a Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-East Region First Team pick, the NE10 Player of the Year and an NE10 All-Conference First Teamer.
- Junior Jess Knight (Hanover, Mass.) was a D2CCA All-East Region Second Team selection and joined Timberlake on the NE10 First Team.

Men's Basketball (21-9, 16-4 NE10)

Notes:
- Men's basketball posted its best season since 2016-17, finishing 21-9, including 16-4 in conference play. The Penmen captured the NE10 Regular-Season Championship, earning the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye for the NE10 Championship. SNHU bowed out in the semifinal round, but claimed an NCAA postseason berth and advanced to the NCAA Division II East Regional semifinal, as the No. 3 seed. It was the first regular-season title, 20-win season and NCAA postseason bid since 2016-17.
-The Penmen went 16-1 from Dec. 17-Feb. 26, including a 10-game winning streak
- Head coach Jack Perri was feted as both the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) East District Coach of the Year and NE10 Coach of the Year.
- Junior Matt Becht (Vienna, Va.) was an NABC East All-District First Team, Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-East Region Second Team and NE10 All-Conference First Team selection.
- Sophomores Ethan Okwuosa (No. Haven, Conn.) and Evan Guillory (Springfield, Mo.) earned NE10 All-Conference Second and Third Team honors, respectively.

Men's Ice Hockey (10-17, 9-11 NE10)

Notes:
- Men's ice hockey finished 10-17, overall, including 9-11 in league play. The team ended the season winning five of its final eight.
- The Penmen earned the No. 4 seed and hosted an NE10 Championship first round contest, but had its season ended with a 3-1 loss to fifth-seeded Franklin Pierce University.
- Senior George Thurston (Plymouth, Mass.) received NE10 All-Conference First Team honors for the second straight year after leading the team with 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points. Senior defenseman Tim Usalis (Danvers, Mass.) earned Second Team accolades, as he scored six goals and handed out eight assists for 14 points. Freshman Brendan Lynch (Nepean, Ontario) collected an All-Rookie Nod. He finished with four goals and 13 assists (17 points) to rank third on the Penmen in scoring. 

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