FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2012
SOUTH EASTON, Mass. – Undefeated and nationally ranked University of New Haven will host American International College in the first-ever Northeast-10 Championship Game on Saturday, November 10 (12:00 p.m.) at DellaCamera Stadium on the campus of New Haven.
The Chargers, ranked third in the nation in the most recent American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Poll, finished the regular season with a perfect mark of 9-0 overall, including 8-0 in Northeast-10 Conference play.
Their road win over American Int'l, 37-6, on Saturday in the final week of the regular season clinched the 2012 Northeast-10 regular-season title and afforded them the opportunity to host the inaugural championship game.
American Int'l finished the regular season at 7-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play to earn its spot in Saturday's NE-10 championship contest
For those that can not make it to the game, it will be broadcast live at Northeast10.tv, and the Northeast-10 Twitter account @TheNortheast10 will have live updates leading up to and throughout the championship game.
The matchup between New Haven and American Int'l will be one of four games during the championship weekend.
In other championship weekend games, third-seeded Bentley University will host sixth-seeded Assumption College, fourth-seeded Stonehill College will welcome sixth-seeded Southern Connecticut State University and fifth-seeded Merrimack will host eighth-seeded Saint Anselm College.
"The Northeast-10 Directors of Athletics have had extensive discussions about how the conference can assist our membership in scheduling Division II football contests," said commissioner Julie Ruppert.
"The creation of this slate of weekend games not only accomplishes that goal but also enhances the student-athlete experience by providing a postseason opportunity in the only sport that had not been included in the past. I commend the athletic directors for developing a great opportunity for our football student-athletes that at the same time offers a cost-effective solution to scheduling."
The athletic directors of the Northeast-10 members approved the championship weekend last year.
New Haven advanced to the national quarterfinals of the 2011 NCAA Division II Championship before falling to Winston-Salem State. Advancing to the round-of-eight matched the furthest a Northeast-10 team had ever reached in NCAA play.
The Chargers finished their Northeast-10 schedule unblemished for the second consecutive season, and have won 16 straight league games overall, including a 45-41 win at Stonehill Oct.18 on national television courtesy of CBS Sports Network. This year, six of their eight conference victories were by at least 20 points.
The Northeast-10 is an association of 16 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that are committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,000 student-athletes. Each year, 4,000 of those student-athletes compete in Conference championships in 23 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes
2012 NORTHEAST-10 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND
Saturday, November 10
Championship Game
No. 2 American International at No. 1 New Haven – 12:00 p.m.
Additional Matchups
No. 6 Assumption at No. 3 Bentley – 1:00 p.m.
No. 7 Southern Connecticut at No. 4 Stonehill – 1:00 p.m.
No. 8 Saint Anselm at No. 5 Merrimack – 1:00 p.m.
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