NO. ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Dominic Samuel, the most decorated men's soccer student-athlete in the storied history of Southern New Hampshire University, was officially announced as one of eight inductees into the Northeast 10 Conference Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2026 on Thursday. Current SNHU women's lacrosse head coach Carissa Medeiros was also enshrined for her stellar playing career at Stonehill College. Both were honored at the NE10 Banquet on June 1 at Saint Michael's College, before Thursday's public announcement.
Dominic Samuel
Samuel, who was inducted into the SNHU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023, is now the fourth Penmen to be enshrined in the NE10 Hall of Fame, joining Mounir Tajiou (men's soccer; 2015), Amber Chandronnait (women's tennis; 2021) and Ali Maloof (softball; 2024). The 2013 NCAA Division II National Championship team was also inducted in 2018.
Samuel was a four-year stalwart on the back line for the men's soccer program from 2012-15. He started 86 of the 87 matches he played in, helping to anchor a back line that allowed just 49 goals (0.56 goals per game) during his time in a Penmen uniform. Samuel also contributed offensively, scoring 15 goals and dishing a pair of assists for 32 points. He finished his career ranking third in the SNHU all-time record book in games played.
Samuel, a native of Toronto, Ontario, was a three-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) – now United Soccer Coaches – All-America and NSCAA All-Region (2013, 2014, 2015) selection, as well as a two-time Daktronics – now Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) – All-America (2014, 2015) and four-time Daktronics All-Region (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) honoree. He was named the 2015 NE10 Defensive Player of the Year, as well as a four-time NE10 All-Conference (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) pick, including a three-time First Team choice (2013-15). Samuel also earned a spot on the 2012 NE10 All-Rookie Team.
The team put together a mind-boggling record of 77-7-4 (.898) during his four seasons, winning the 2013 NCAA National Championship, making four NCAA appearances and capturing four NE10 titles.
Samuel went on to play professionally for seven seasons, including with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL (2016) and then with the best Canadian Premiere League (CPL) team in league history – Forge FC (2019-24). In his six seasons with Forge FC, he amassed 159 appearances and the team reached the league finals in all six seasons, capturing the title four times (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023).
As the league prefers to honor each inductee on a date and in a manner that best celebrates their accomplishments on campus, SNHU will collaborate with the NE10 to determine an appropriate way to honor Samuel on campus during the 2026-27 academic year.
Medeiros, a 2003 graduate of Stonehill, played three seasons for the Skyhawks, developing into one of the top goalkeepers in NCAA Division II history. Medeiros went 42-8 during her career with a 6.37 goals-against average and .587 save percentage, as she helped the women's lacrosse program to its first National Championship.
Medeiros, the 2003 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Goalkeeper of the Year and an IWLCA All-America First Team honoree, was a three-time NE10 All-Conference selection over her career. She helped the program to the NCAA tournament three straight years, finishing as national semifinalists as a sophomore and national runners-up as a junior, prior her senior season of 2003 that saw Stonehill finish 17-2 overall on its way to the national title. The Skyhawks were 45-15, including a perfect 25-0 in the NE10, during Medeiros' three seasons.
The New Bedford, Mass., native, was a member of three NE10 Championship squads, still ranking second in program history with 448 career saves, while her .587 career save percentage also ranks second all-time. Her 6.37 career GAA still stands as eighth best in NCAA Division II history. Medeiros posted a 5.70 GAA as a junior, setting a program record at the time, which still ranks third in program history, while her 156 saves in 2001 is the eighth-highest single-season total at Stonehill.
Medeiros, who wrapped up her fifth season at the helm for the Penmen this past spring, helped guide Stonehill to a second National Championship as an assistant coach and has won 138 games over 17 years as a coach.
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