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
NCAA Second Round: No. 18 New Haven at No. 12 Kutztown - Saturday, Nov. 27 – 12:05 p.m. (Live Stats – Video)
Coming off a convincing 38-13 victory in its NCAA First Round game against Bentley, New Haven travels to play top-seeded Kutztown on Saturday – as the Chargers (10-1) look to extend their current nine-game winning streak. It is the seventh time in eight postseason appearances that New Haven has advanced to the NCAA Second Round.
It will be only the fourth all-time matchup between New Haven and Kutztown, with the Chargers holding a decisive 3-0 advantage in the series. The last meeting was in 2011, also in the NCAA Second Round, when the Chargers won a 44-37 shootout to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals. During the current winning streak, New Haven is averaging 34.8 points per game and allowing only 13.4 points per game – a remarkable +21.4 point differential.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
St. Thomas Aquinas at Saint Anselm: Sunday, Nov. 28 – 1:00 p.m. (Live Stats – Video)
Saint Anselm, the reigning NE10 champion, will host St. Thomas Aquinas on Sunday afternoon in a rematch of the 2019 NCAA East Regional final. STAC is currently receiving votes in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll, providing a tough non-conference matchup at the Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.
The Hawks are 6-1 against the Spartans since 2004. Head coach Keith Dickson enters his 36th season with Saint Anselm – which was picked to finish first in the NE10 Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll in the Northeast Division during the preseason. Saint Anselm (1-2, 1-2 NE10) recently knocked off No. 24 Southern New Hampshire on Tuesday night. Senior forward Chris Paul leads the team with 23.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
Southern New Hampshire at Bentley: Sunday, Nov. 28 – 2:00 p.m. (Live Stats – Video)
In the latest rankings by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Southern New Hampshire propelled itself this week into the No. 24 spot after a 4-0 start to the season. On Tuesday night, the Penmen suffered their first loss of the season on the road to Saint Anselm, despite a 24-point effort from sophomore guard Jacari Sanders.
The Penmen have won four of the last six meetings with Bentley (2-1, 1-1 NE10), which is coming off a 70-59 loss at Stonehill on Tuesday night. The Falcons secured a big road win last week on the road at Saint Anselm – snapping the Hawks' 11-game home winning streak, in the process. Graduate guard Colton Lawrence is averaging a team-high 20.0 points per game in the first three contests of the season.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
No. 16 Bentley at No. 23 Valdosta State: Oct. 27 – 12:00 pm. (Live Stats – Video)
The undefeated Falcons travel south this weekend for the Valdosta State Classic for a pair of contests as they look to improve on an impressive start to the year while Valdosta State is 2-1 and coming off its first loss of the year.
The Blazers fell to Georgia State 56-45 last Saturday, but opened the season with victories against Palm Beach Atlantic (72-40) and Benedict (65-58). They are averaging 60.7 points per game while holding teams to 51.3 points per contest. Valdosta is holding teams to just 12 o 68 from downtown. Bentley, meanwhile, has started the season and an impressive defense, giving up just 47.3 points per game. The Falcons are holding teams to 32.6 percent shooting while shooting 50.3 percent themselves.
Caldwell at Pace: Oct. 27 – 1:30 p.m. (Live Stats – Video)
The Setters (3-0) are one of two undefeated teams left in the NE10 and host Caldwell on Saturday as they look to secure their fourth consecutive win. The Cougars, meanwhile, are 4-2 this season following a 70-60 victory over Mercy.
Pace has relied on a stout defense to start the year with a 3-0 record, highlighted by a 75-51 victory over New Haven on Tuesday. The Setters are averaging 62.3 points while holding teams to 50 points per game. Lauren Schetter is averaging 19.0 points and 9.0 rebounds to lead the team. Caldwell is averaging 65.2 points per game, led by Paula Dits who is posting 15.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
ICE HOCKEY
Western New England at Southern New Hampshire: Oct. 27 – 1:40 p.m. (Live Stats – Video)
Southern New Hampshire is off to an impressive 6-1 start this year and looks to take down the Golden Bears (3-4) on Saturday. The Penmen earned a 3-2 win over Stonehill last weekend, while WNEU was swept by No. 7 Endicott 4-1 and 5-4.
The Golden Bears are averaging 2.6 goals per game while allowing 3.4 per contest. Shane Miller leads the team with 11 points on one goal and ten assists. The Penmen have won six straight and are averaging 4.4 goals per game. George Thurston has ten goals and five assists while Jake Cox has 13 points on three goals with ten assists to lead the team.
