FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

14 Inductees from 10 Institutions in this Year's Class.

MANSFIELD, Mass. – The Northeast-10 Conference is proud to announce its Hall of Fame Class of 2021 on Monday afternoon, recognizing 14 inductees – the Conference's largest class since 2007 – for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions during their time at NE10 member institutions.

The 14 inductees span 10 different NE10 institutions, including three former members and 11 different sports. The Class consists of 11 individuals and three teams, with four institutions being represented by multiple inductees.  

The last time the NE10 sponsored a Hall of Fame Class this large was in 2007, when 17 inductions were made. At that point, the NE10 Hall of Fame was only in its second year. The inaugural Class of 2006 consisted of 25 inductions – which remains a league record.

As the COVID-19 pandemic raged on last calendar year, the NE10 did not sponsor a Class of 2020. Instead, the league elected to completely fill its class size in 2021 – taking it to the maximum capacity allowed under its Hall of Fame guidelines.

For the full list of inductees, please see below.

Congratulations to all members of the NE10 Hall of Fame Class of 2021!

2015 Adelphi Women's Lacrosse Team

A perennial national power in Division II, Adelphi women's lacrosse captured the 2015 NCAA Championship – the fourth for the program since joining the NE10 in 2010 and the seventh overall for the Panthers, at the time. Adelphi went 21-1 on the season, including 12-1 in NE10 play, on its way to the national title.

On May 17, 2015, Adelphi's Felicia Mills netted the overtime game-winner with 11 seconds remaining in the extra period to push the Panthers past Lock Haven, 5-4, securing their second-consecutive NCAA championship – and the first for new head coach Pat McCabe in his inaugural season with the program. Adelphi goalkeeper Taylor Hayes was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.

Robert Hartwell, Adelphi (2009-13)

Robert Hartwell became the Director of Athletics at Adelphi in 1986 and was eventually promoted to Assistant Vice President in 2009. During his tenure, Hartwell worked to upgrade each athletic facility on campus and oversaw a graduation rate of over 90-percent among student-athletes. The longtime administrator played a crucial role in the Panthers' move from the East Coast Conference to the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 – giving him four years in the league before his retirement.

From 2009-13, Hartwell led an athletics program that made an immediate impact in the NE10, as the Panthers accounted for three NCAA titles (all in women's lacrosse), over 40 NCAA Tournament appearances, five NE10 regular season titles, 15 NE10 Tournament titles by 20 individual champions and Adelphi won the coveted NE10 Presidents' Cup for the first time in 2012-13.

Dominic Smith, American International (2008-12)

A remarkable collegiate career for American International's Dominic Smith came full-circle in 2012, as he captured the national championship in the 400m at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship at the Myers Fieldhouse on the campus of Minnesota State University-Mankato. Smith finished in a time of 47.84 seconds to claim the first national title in AIC history.

Smith, who still owns several AIC records, is a seven-time All-American based on his performances at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships throughout his career. He still owns the NE10 Indoor Track & Field Championship record for the 400m dash at 47.35 seconds. In 2009, he was named the conference's Track & Field Rookie of the Year after winning the 200m dash at the NE10 Outdoor Track & Field Championship.

Barbara Stevens, Bentley (1986-2020)

Barbara Stevens, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020, is a legendary coaching figure in the NE10 – leading her Bentley women's basketball program to unparalleled success in 34 years in Waltham. She led the Falcons to 38 NE10 Championships (21 regular season, 17 tournament), 14 NCAA regional titles, 10 NCAA semifinals and the 2014 NCAA Championship with an undefeated 35-0 record.

Stevens is a five-time Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II Coach of the Year and 16-time NE10 Coach of the Year. She accounted for a remarkable 901-200 (.818) record at Bentley. Overall, her career coaching record stands at 1,058-291 (.784), with her win total being the fourth-highest in NCAA women's basketball history – behind only Tara VanDerveer, Pat Summit and Geno Auriemma.

Bentley Men's Basketball, 2006-08

The Bentley men's basketball teams between 2006 and 2008 posted one of the most remarkable streaks in Division II history – winning 55-straight regular season games – on its way to the two winningest seasons in NE10 men's basketball history. The streak began on Feb. 21, 2006 and ran until Nov. 7, 2008, spanning four different seasons and breaking a DII record that had stood since the 1940s. From Nov. 21, 2006 to Nov. 19, 2008, the Falcons won 55-consecutive NE10 contests.

During the 2006-07 season, the Falcons went 32-1 after cruising to NE10 and NCAA East Region titles before losing in the national quarterfinals to Winona State. In 2007-08, Bentley was an astounding 34-1 – losing only in the national semifinals, once again to Winona State. Bentley head coach Jay Lawson was named NE10 Coach of the Year in both seasons.

Michelle Muniz, Bryant (2002-05)

Michelle Muniz made a major impact on Bryant volleyball during a highly-successful era for the program in the mid-2000s, earning NE10 Player of the Year on three occasions (2003-05) while leading the Bulldogs to four-straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament – including three trips to the Sweet 16.

Bryant won 128 matches in her four years with the program, averaging 32 wins per season. Muniz, a two-time AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, helped Bryant total a 128-34 record (.790) and 56-6 (.903) in NE10 play. She accumulated 2,320 kills in her career, the second-most in NE10 history, as well as 315 service aces – good for fourth-most. Muniz is Bryant's all-time leader in kills, kills per set and total attempts.

Mike Adams, Franklin Pierce (2006-10)

During a historic run of success for the Franklin Pierce baseball program, Mike Adams was at the source of it all. Adams, the 2008 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Pitcher of the Year, helped the Ravens capture three NE10 titles, four East Region titles and two national semifinal appearances in his collegiate career.

A multi-time All-Conference and All-Region selection, Adams had his best season in 2008, going 11-1 with a 1.36 ERA and a 113-36 strikeout-to-walk ratio. That season, he was named NE10 and Northeast Regional Pitcher of the Year. He finished his career as the Franklin Pierce leader in strikeouts (261), ERA (1.78) and innings pitched (294.0), while placing second in wins (25) and appearances (52). He ranks in the top 10 all-time in the NE10 for wins, strikeouts and ERA.

Gabriela Demoner, Franklin Pierce (2006-09)

Gabriela Demoner, a four-time NSCAA All-American, had a stunning career with the Franklin Pierce women's soccer program – leading the Ravens to a pair of New England Regional titles and an appearance in the 2007 national championship game. Demoner was NE10 Player of the Year in 2009 and was named a four-time NE10 First Team All-Conference selection, as well as being a multi-time East Region Player of the Year honoree.

She accounted for 82 goals, 43 assists and 207 points in 86 career games, including 21 game-winning goals. Her best season came as a senior, where she scored 32 goals and added eight assists for 72 points. Demoner ranks in the top five in NE10 history when it comes to goals, assists and points, as she led Franklin Pierce to an overall record of 69-14-9 (.799) in her career, with a 44-7-6 (.825) mark in NE10 play.

Corey Lunney, Merrimack (2010-13)

With all of the success that the Merrimack men's lacrosse program had as an NE10 member, Corey Lunney was one of its most distinguished players. Over his four years with the Warriors, he was twice named an All-American and was a four-time selection to the All-Conference and All-New England teams. As a senior in 2013, Lunney earned USILA National Player of the Year, as well as New England Player of the Year for the third time and NE10 Player of the Year for the first time.

Lunney helped Merrimack win an NE10 title in his freshman season, while leading the Warriors to 48 victories during his collegiate career. He ranks second in Merrimack history in career goals (175) and points (229), while also sitting in the top 10 of NE10 history in both categories. Lunney registered over 50 points in each of his four seasons, including a career-best 59 points as both a junior and senior.

Steve Dagostino, Saint Rose (2004-08)

Steve Dagostino proved to be Saint Rose's on-court leader during a historically successful run for the men's basketball program, which included an 85-37 (.670) record and three NCAA Tournament appearances in a four-year span. He was twice selected as a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-American and is one of only five players in NE10 history to be named the league's Player of the Year in consecutive seasons.

Although he had plenty of athletic honors, Dagostino was second-to-none in the classroom. He was named the NE10 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2008, while also being named a CoSIDA Academic All-American on two occasions. He is the only player in Saint Rose history to record 1,500 points, 500 assists and 200 steals over the course of his career.

2015 Southern Connecticut Women's Track 4x400

The Southern Connecticut women's track 4x400 relay team punched its ticket in the history books at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships by winning the national title in a time of 3:44.91. The relay team, consisting of Crystle Hill, Georgette Nixon, Sarah Hill and Shatajah Wattely, earned gold at the University of Alabama – becoming only the second individual NCAA champion in the history of the SCSU women's indoor track & field program.

This quartet of Owls edged NE10 opponents New Haven and Stonehill at the NCAAs, as well as seven other Division II programs, on its way to first place and First Team All-America honors. It was the first time in NE10 history that a track relay team won an NCAA title.

Nick Lebron, Southern Connecticut (2010-14)

Nick Lebron is a two-time NCAA champion for the Southern Connecticut men's track & field program, winning the national title in the heptathlon at the 2012 and 2014 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Lebron, a seven-time All-American, was named the NE10 Men's Field Athlete of the Year as a senior, as well as the USTFCCCA Regional Field Athlete of the Year for both indoors and outdoors in 2014.

Lebron still holds three school records for his outstanding performances in the pentathlon (indoors), heptathlon (indoors) and decathlon (outdoors). He is a multi-time All-Region and All-New England athlete, which includes a first-place finish in the heptathlon and decathlon of the 2014 New England Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships, respectively.

Amber Chandronnait, Southern New Hampshire (2007-11)

Amber Chandronnait led the SNHU women's tennis program to a pair of NE10 Championships during her collegiate career (2010, 2011), which included a remarkable 73-5 (.936) record in singles play – as well as a 54-1 record at No. 1 singles and 38-0 in NE10 play. Her doubles record of 54-12 (.818) included a 49-9 (.845) mark in league play. Not only did Chandronnait provide outstanding individual play, but it resulted in team victories, as the Penmen went 50-10 (.833) during her three years with the program and made three straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Chandronnait was a three-time selection as the NE10 Player of the Year, as well as a three-time ITA East Regional Champion. She is the leader in school history for career singles and doubles records based on winning percentage. Academically, Chandronnait was second to none – earning consecutive nods to the NE10 Academic All-Conference Team and being named a two-time Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year at SNHU.

Sammy Macy, UMass Lowell (2007-10)

Sammy Macy, a three-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American, led UMass Lowell to the 2010 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship – the second national title in program history. Macy and the River Hawks saved the best for last, as the 2010 NCAA title snapped a three-year losing streak in the finals. UMass Lowell was the national runner-up in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Macy was the 2009 NE10 Player of the Year, in addition to being a three-time selection to the All-Conference First Team. During Macy's tenure, UMass Lowell won five NE10 titles – three in the regular season and two in the tournament. She accounted for 91 goals, 38 assists and 220 points in her career, as well as 24 game-winning goals. Macy leads the school record book in goals and points, while ranking in the top three in NE10 history for both categories.

ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 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 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, 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.