The Weekend Primer: NE10 Games to Watch

Posted: Sep 17, 2021

Every Friday, the NE10 is going to highlight the biggest contests each weekend. It may be a big-time rivalry, matchup between two ranked teams or a battle for playoff-positioning. Fans can follow the action for every game by visiting our schedule page.

FOOTBALL

Stonehill at Bentley: Saturday, Sept. 18 – 2:00 p.m. (Live Stats - Video)

In the first full week of conference action on the gridiron, Stonehill travels to play Bentley in a crucial early-season meeting that could have NE10 Championship implications. Both the Skyhawks and Falcons are currently receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) rankings and enter into Saturday's matchup with 2-0 records.

High-powered offenses will be on display, as Stonehill (44.5 points per game) and Bentley (40.5 points per game) currently rank first and second, respectively, among all NE10 teams in scoring. Stonehill running back Justin Felder is coming off a five-touchdown performance in a win over Southern Connecticut, while Bentley quarterback Stephen Sturm enters with seven total touchdowns (five passing, two rushing) in his first two games.

American International at Franklin Pierce: Saturday, Sept. 18 – 6:00 p.m. (Live Stats - Video)

Coming off a stunning comeback win against Pace last weekend, American International looks to keep building on its 2-0 start to the season when it travels to play Franklin Pierce in a game under the lights on Saturday. The Ravens, meanwhile, will host their first conference game of the season and will seek their first-ever win over an NE10 opponent in their second year as a Division II program.

The Yellow Jackets are led by quarterback Jayson Demild, who accounted for 447 total yards of offense (354 passing, 93 rushing) and four touchdowns to lead AIC back from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit at Pace. AIC's defense is allowing just 316 yards of offense per game, second-best in the NE10, but will have its hands full with Franklin Pierce's EJ Burgess, who ran for 197 yards and a touchdown in last week's 31-20 loss to Lake Erie.

FIELD HOCKEY

Southern Connecticut at No. 10 American International: Saturday, Sept. 18 - 1:00 p.m. (Live Stats - Video)

The Yellow Jackets just entered the national rankings on Tuesday but suffered their first conference loss earlier this week, falling 1-0 to No. 4 Assumption. It snapped a three-game win streak for AIC, who is still 4-2 overall on the year. The Owls enter Saturday with a 1-2 record, but a 1-0 mark in the NE10 after taking down Franklin Pierce 3-2.

SCSU is led by Janelle Ward who has started all three games in net. She has a 4.00 GAA but boasts an impressive .821 save percentage as she averages 18.3 saves per game. The Owls have had three different goal scorers this year. Jessica Stone owns a 1.80 GAA for AIC, with an .811 save percentage while making 43 saves. Offensively, Shannon Cormier leads the team with three goals and two assists.

No. 3 Saint Anselm at No. 7 East Stroudsburg: Sunday, Sept. 19 - 12:00 p.m. (Live Stats - Video)

The Hawks face a tough non-conference test when they travel to No. 7 East Stroudsburg on Sunday. Saint Anselm is coming off its first loss of the season, falling to No. 8 Stonehill 3-2 earlier this week. It was only the second time since the start of the 2019 season the team has allowed three goals or more goals. ESU, meanwhile is 3-2 with a recent win over No. 5 Kutztown by a 2-1 margin. The Warriors did fall 1-0 to Stonehill earlier this season, though they outshot the Skyhawks 15-9.

Maeve Murphy leads Saint Anselm with two goals and two assists while the Hawks have split duty in net. Sidney Falterer owns a 2.00 GAA with .765 save percentage while Mackenzie McConnell owns a 0.48 GAA with four saves and 2-0 record, but has only faced nine shots overall. Three Warriors have two goals apiece while Hannah Barbush leads the team with three assists. In net, Amy Supey owns a 1.22 GAA with a .714 save percentage and 3-2 record.

MEN'S SOCCER

Southern New Hampshire at No. 3 Franklin Pierce: Saturday, Sept. 18 - 2:00 p.m. (Live Stats - Video)

The No. 3 ranked Ravens host Southern New Hampshire in their conference opener at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Franklin Pierce has given up just one goal all season while rolling to a 4-0 start. The Penmen, meanwhile have looked strong to start the year despite the 2-2 record. Their last loss was a 2-1 defeat to #13 Wilmington and they are coming off a 4-0 victory of Bridgeport where they outshot the home team 18-0.

Franklin Pierce already has eight different goal scorers this year, highlighted by Braudilio Rodrigues with three goals and one assist. In net, Kosta Maniatis has started three games and posted a 0.33 GAA. He has been only forced to make three saves while going 3-0. Alexander Reiter leads the SNHU attack with three goals, including two game-winning goals. Santiago Rojas has three starts, posting a a 1.00 GAA with eight saves and a .727 save percentage.

No. 24 Le Moyne at Adelphi: Saturday, Sept. 18 – 6:00 p.m. (Live Stats – Video)

The Panthers won the 2019 NE10 Regular Season Championship but had a slow start in 2021. Their 3-1 victory over Molloy on Tuesday improved their record to 1-2-1 overall as they had six different players record a point. They look to make a statement when they face the Dolphins who are a perfect 3-0 this year with a 7-1 scoring differential. Le Moyne has scored at least two goals in each game and look to start conference play off strong on Saturday.

Le Moyne has been anchored by two-time NE10 Goalkeeper of the Week Josh Mahr, who boasts a 0.33 GAA with seven saves in three starts. Offensively, Robert Rohrhirsch leads the team with two goals, both of which were game-winners. Paolo Marciano had six points on two goals and two assists for Adelphi, while Benji Jones has dished off a pair of assists. In net, Harry Beasley owns a 2.13 GAA with 14 saves while starting all four contests.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Southern Connecticut at Bentley: Saturday, Sept.18 – 11:00 a.m. (Live Stats - Video)

Southern Connecticut, the runner-up at the 2019 NE10 Women's Soccer Championship, will travel to play Bentley on Saturday in a matchup that features two teams that were picked to qualify for the NE10 postseason, according to the Coaches' Poll on Aug. 19. Bentley is 1-0 in league play after a tight 1-0 victory at New Haven this past Wednesday, while SCSU lost by the same margin on the road at Adelphi.

It should be a defensive battle, as both teams feature top-notch goalkeepers in Bentley's Kat Hassapis and SCSU's Allie Smith. Both have allowed fewer goals than they have played games this season, while combining for two shutouts. Hassapis has been tested more through the first few games, accounting for 20 saves to Smith's 12.

No. 19 Southern New Hampshire at New Haven: Saturday, Sept. 18 – 7:00 p.m. (Live Stats - Video)

No. 19 Southern New Hampshire will have a tough road test when it visits New Haven on Saturday night, as the Penmen look to remain unbeaten in NE10 play after a 2-0 start. The Chargers are 0-2 in league play, but only lost by one-goal margins to Stonehill (in overtime) and Bentley – with the losses coming after a 3-0 start to the season in non-conference play.

SNHU forward Alyssa Anderson is tied for a league-high with three goals, all of which came in the form of a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Staten Island. The Penmen have allowed only one goal in four games, spearheaded by the defensive efforts of Ai Inoue at back and Z Kaplan at goalkeeper. New Haven is led by Meghan Dellea with five points this season, as well as goalie Paige Davis, who leads the NE10 with 27 saves.

VOLLEYBALL

Saint Anselm at Assumption: Friday, Sept. 17 – 7:00 p.m. (Live Stats - Video)

Saint Anselm, who was picked to finish third in the NE10 Volleyball Coaches' Poll on Aug. 20, is off to a 7-2 start this season – tied for the best record among NE10 programs. Assumption, which has started 2-2, looks to grab an early-season signature win in this non-conference meeting with the Hawks.

Saint Anselm's Lauren Casey and Michelle Henwood, the NE10 Player and Setter of the Week for Sept. 13, respectively, have helped the Hawks rank first in the conference statistically when it comes to hitting percentage (.256) and assists per set (12.76). Assumption is led by Alexis Distasio, who is averaging 3.60 kills per set – second-most in the NE10.

Stonehill vs. New Haven: Saturday, Sept. 18 – 11:00 a.m. (Live Stats - Video)

Before conference play begins on Tuesday, a pair of NE10 volleyball heavyweights will meet when Stonehill plays New Haven in the Roberts Wesleyan College Tournament. Both are off to sub-.500 starts, but were ranked in the top-five of the Volleyball Coaches' Poll and look for a momentum boost heading into NE10 matches.

Sophia Leon-Tabor currently ranks fourth among NE10 setters with 9.90 assist per set, while Stonehill's Carly Russell is averaging a team-best 4.10 digs per set to lead the defensive efforts for the Skyhawks. New Haven has won two of its past three matches against in-state foes Bridgeport and Post. Stonehill is 2-0 in its most recent matches against Southern New Hampshire and Assumption, bouncing back from an 0-4 start to the season in the 2021 Shark Invitational in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.