FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Award Winners Announced on Monday, June 7, on NE10 NOW.
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Of the 14 institutional nominees for both the Northeast-10 Conference Man and Woman of the Year awards, the lists have been narrowed down to three finalists each, as announced by the league office on Tuesday.
Finalists for the NE10 Man and Woman of the Year awards this year represent five different schools and five different sports. The announcement of award recipients will be made the night of Monday, June 7, on NE10 NOW – the conference's digital streaming platform.
The NE10 Man and Woman of the Year awards honor student-athletes for their excellence in competition, in the classroom and in the community. The Woman of the Year award winner will be forwarded to the NCAA for their National Woman of the Year award, serving as the NE10's nomination.
Each of the league's 14 member institutions nominated at least one student-athlete for each award and the 28 total nominations were released last week.
For information on our finalists, please see below.
NE10 Man of the Year Finalists
Matt Costanza, AIC
Sport: Baseball
Undergraduate Major: Health Sciences
Undergraduate GPA: 3.89
Graduate Program: Physical Therapy
Graduate GPA: 3.75
Costanza has been a strong representative for AIC athletics in his tenure with the baseball program, serving for three years as President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) on campus. He is a four-year participant in both AIC and NE10 SAAC. As part of his SAAC service, Costanza has been generous with his time, participating in events such as Homerun for the Hungry, Rachael's Challenge and Hunger for Justice – all while serving as a tutor for students on campus.
On the diamond, Costanza has been captain of the baseball team for three seasons. He is a two-time NE10 All-Conference selection, as well as an NCBWA and D2CCA First Team All-Region selection.
Joshua Goldstein, SNHU
Sport: Baseball
Undergraduate Major: Business Administration
Undergraduate GPA: 3.722
Graduate Program: Business Management
Graduate GPA: 3.677
Goldstein, a baseball player for the nationally-ranked Southern New Hampshire program, has found numerous ways to serve the community in his time on campus. He has participated in events for the Salvation Army and New Horizons Food Pantry, while contributing time to organizations such as Team IMPACT and Make-A-Wish. He was a four-year participant in Take Back the Night, a walk for justice on sexual abuse.
He is a two-time captain for the SNHU baseball team, a Presidential Student Ambassador on campus and an active participant on SNHU's SAAC for two years. Goldstein is a three-time honoree of the NE10 All-Conference Third Team and helped lead the Penmen to the DII College World Series in 2018.
Michel-Ange Siaba, Stonehill
Sport: Men's Track & Field
Undergraduate Major: Criminology
Undergraduate GPA: 3.88
Siaba has excelled in community service and leadership positions during his time at Stonehill with the track & field program. He has participated in the Karat School Project for four years, which works to provide quality education for underserved communities in the Ivory Coast. Siaba has also participated in The Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction, the Humboldt State Mentoring Program and a Plymouth County Police Drug Take Back Event.
As for leadership positions, Siaba has been active in organizations on campus, such as Students in Action and Martin Institute's Prints, as well as off campus with Palo Alto Police and Social Reform. He was chosen as team captain of the Stonehill men's track & field program this season. In 2020, he was named Outstanding Field Performer at the 2020 NE10 Indoor Track & Field Championships and is a multi-time all-conference selection in indoor long jump, triple jump and heptathlon.
NE10 Woman of the Year Finalists
Alison Johnson, Adelphi
Sport: Women's Lacrosse
Undergraduate Major: Childhood Education
Undergraduate GPA: 3.93
Graduate Program: 5-Year STEP/Education Program
Graduate GPA: 4.0
Johnson has been a big contributor for the Adelphi women's lacrosse program, both on and off the field, since arriving to campus. She is a four-year contributor to the program's commitment with Friends of Jaclyn, while also participating in events for Make-A-Wish and National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Johnson was also a substitute teacher this year at Hampton Street School and the head coach of the Blue Devils Lacrosse Organization.
Adelphi won a pair of national titles (2017, 2019) with Johnson playing for the program, while herself becoming a three-time IWLCA All-American – including two nods to the First Team. Johnson is a former NE10 Player and Rookie of the Year, as well as a three-time NE10 All-Conference First Team selection.
Alena Masterson, Franklin Pierce
Sport: Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Undergraduate Major: Communications
Undergraduate GPA: 4.0
Masterson, an athlete on the women's cross country and track & field programs at Franklin Pierce, has been a strong leader on campus. She served as president in the Justice in Action Athletic Alliance, a group designed to combat systemic injustice. Masterson was also active in the Women in Leadership Program, as well as a senator and secretary for the Student Government Association (SGA) on campus.
She was selected team captain for one season at Franklin Pierce, while earning the NE10 Elite 24 Award for women's cross country in two consecutive years. Masterson earned NE10 Second Team All-Conference for her relay team's finish in the 4x800 at the NE10 Outdoor Track & Field Championship.
Sophia Poveda, Stonehill
Sport: Volleyball
Undergraduate Major: Political Science and International Studies
Undergraduate GPA: 3.71
Poveda has made the most of her time at Stonehill by giving back to her local community. She served for three years as a volleyball counselor at the Ace's Girls Program, which encourages female empowerment for local youth. She also is a two-time Team IMPACT contributor through Stonehill's volleyball program. Poveda has donated her time to Heights Crossing Rehabilitation Center, Trinity Catholic Academy and My Brother's Keeper, among others.
She is a two-time team captain for the Skyhawks, while also serving as a spokesperson for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in South Florida. Poveda has contributed to her campus as a teaching assistant, tutor and peer mentor. Additionally, she worked at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as a summer associate in 2019 – the same year she was named NE10 First Team All-Conference as a junior.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 student-athletes compete in conference championships, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
