Each week for the remainder of the spring we will honor the seniors from two NE10 men's lacrosse programs as our teams of the week for each player's dedication to their program and teammates.
Saint Anselm
Head Coach Mike Sciamanna on his senior class – "The 2020 senior class is a very special group of men. We are all extremely proud of everything they have accomplished both on and off the field. We are all saddened by the sudden end to their careers and the dramatic change to their senior year of college. They have proven over the past four years that they can handle any challenge that comes their way and we are confident that they will do so in these trying times. The lessons they have learned at Saint Anselm College will help them in the months and years to come.
This senior class stepped up in many ways during the 2020 season. Many of them were having their biggest impact on the field this season and were seeing all of their hard work pay off. More importantly their leadership was taken to another level, which was a big part of our early season success. They have helped to create a culture that will carry on well into the future. Their impact on the Saint Anselm Men's Lacrosse Program has been amazing and we all want to thank them for everything they have done and wish them luck in their future endeavors."
Seniors:
- Joseph Hartigan - Defense - Brookline, Mass.
- Jeremy Lewis - Goalkeeper - Needham, Mass.
- Matt Cullinan - Attack - Jupiter, Fla.
- James Righini - Midfield - South Weymouth, Mass.
- Curtiss Vachon - Midfield - Westminster, Mass.
- Thomas Devaney - Student Assistant Coach - Andover, Mass.
Season Recap
The Hawks went undefeated in 2020 and were ranked 18th in the nation before their season was cut short. They opened the season with a 16-7 victory over then No. 18 NYIT before taking down Florida Tech 17-16 in overtime and Georgian Court 15-6. Senior Matt Cullinan was tied for second on the team in goals with seven while the team was allowing just 9.6 goals per game. This class reached the NE10 Tournament in each of its first three seasons, including the program's first appearance in the NE10 Championship back in 2018.
Southern New Hampshire
Head Coach Paul Calkins on his senior class – "Our five seniors have meant so much to our program over the past four years. Anthony was a three-year captain for us and has been an extension of our coaching staff on and off the field. He was a true competitor with a passion to get better every day. Tyler served as a four-year starter for us. He has been amongst the top defenders in the conference and was our anchor on defense from the day he stepped onto campus. Neal emerged as the starter by the middle of his junior year. He battled every day in practice with some of the quickest hands and seems to put his body in front of every shot. Mike, meanwhile, is a solid defender who we switched to SSDM. He took that responsibility on and has a "do whatever needed" attitude. He showed leadership during his this year and was doing a great job of mentoring the younger guys. Finally, Chris was a sophomore walk-on and is a hard working guy that did everything to improve every day. He went to clinics and worked closely with our top face-off guy to improve. He has a great team-first attitude that went a long way in the locker room."
Seniors
- Anthony Milano - LSM - Billerica, Mass.
- Tyler Mello - Defense - Achushnet, Mass.
- Neal Murry - Goalkeeper - Marblehead, Mass.
- Mike Keegan - Midfield - Skaneateles, N.Y.
- Chris Petkewich - Face-off - Leominster, Mass.
Season Recap
The Penman opened the season with a tough 10-7 loss to Georgian Court and then fell to Molloy 13-11 before finishing the year with a strong 14-7 victory over Dominican. Tyler Mello was second on the team with two caused turnovers while Neal Murry posted a 10.3 GAA and 29 saves in three starts between the pipes. This class did help the team reach the NE10 Tournament back in 2017.
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 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.
