College Sports: Let the good times roll at Merrimack

NORTH ANDOVER — Expansion was the theme at Merrimack College this athletic season.

From an expanded Volpe Complex, to expanding the number of sports offered, to expanding ticket revenue, Merrimack grew at a rapid rate.

The Volpe complex finished its expansion project in December, just in time for the winningest season in Merrimack hockey's Division 1 history.

The Warriors reached the Hockey East championship game for the first time since joining the league in 1989-90 and was selected to the Division 1 NCAA tournament for the first time since 1988.

It was the highlight of a whirlwind season.

Hockey hosted its first two televised home games in six years and the Warriors ticket revenue nearly doubled, with the department raising over $225,000 in ticket sales from hockey, basketball and football, according to the athletic department.

The softball program returned to prominence, with its most wins (31) since the 2004 season and a top-25 national ranking to end the year. The Warriors finished 20-10 in the Northeast-10, good for second place in the conference and advanced to the NCAA regional tournament.

Head coach Elaine Schwager said, "Our seniors and captains did a great job of providing leadership. We will return a solid group of players next spring and we will build on the success from this spring."

Merrimack teams posted a 169-150-7 composite record in 2010-11.

Academically, the Warrior athletes sported a higher GPA than the campus average and Merrimack added women's golf and crew for next season, hiking the number of varsity sports to 22.

In the last two years under director of athletics Glenn Hofmann, Merrimack has added two more full-time coaches and additional support staff positions in sports marketing, sports information, and strength and conditioning.

In the past two years Merrimack has won or shared Northeast-10 titles in football, men's lacrosse and men's tennis while sending seven programs to the NCAA tournament.

The pride and joy of the year, though, was hockey.

A program that some wondered not too long ago if it would and/or should even remain in Hockey East, returned to the national spotlight.

Merrimack's senior class won just 12 games as freshmen and nine games as sophomores. Last year's 16-win season set marks for the team since joining Hockey East but this season's 25-win campaign shattered those.

"It's about the people we surround ourselves with," said head coach Mark Dennehy, who was College Hockey News' co-Coach of the Year. "You only see tidbits but these student-athletes are so special. You see how hard, determined and disciplined they are. The school's in debt to them and the sacrifices they made. We were excited to make the national tournament, but I knew deep in my heart that it would end, and I would be done coaching the 2010-11 team and it's hard to take."

Hofmann expects bigger and brighter things in the future.

"This year was huge for us," he said. "Obviously so much attention was given to hockey but really this year set the tone and I think shows that this is a new Merrimack College. We need to keep that spirit alive. There are big things in our future, this is only the beginning."

As for the college as a whole, President Christopher Hopey has helped lead a charge that will enroll, most likely, the largest freshman class in the history of the college this September.

Other improvements, such as a renovation to the library and additions to student life offerings, were also jumpstarted in the past year.

"This is a completely different campus than it was just two years ago," Hofmann said. "We're really excited with what lies ahead. This is such a great job. I'm so lucky to be a part of this college at this time."

Merrimack 2010-11: Sport by Sport recap

Baseball

Record: 14-28

Head coach: Jim Martin (1st year, 14-28)

Top performers: Mark O'Flynn (.321 average, 22 RBI, 26 runs, All-NE-10 2nd team), Joe Mantoni (5-2, 51 Ks, All-NE-10 3rd team), Brett Julian (0.79 ERA, 6 saves).

Men's Basketball

Record: 13-14

Head coach: Bert Hammel (31st year, 461-422)

Top performers: Dee Mency (20.5 points, NABC All-American: top 16 players nationally), Roland Davis (16.9 points), Wayne Mack (14.1 points)

Men's cross country

Best finish: 3rd at 7-team Shacklette Invitational

Head coach: Chris Cameron (17th year)

Top performers: John Doherty (8th of 89 runners at Shacklette)

Football

Record: 4-6

Head Coach: John Perry (3rd year, 17-13)

Top performers: J.R. Suozzo (595 rushing yards, 14 rushing TDs, 2,638 passing yards, 17 passing TDs), Greg Abelli (947 receiving yards), Shawn Loiseau (75 solo tackles, NE-10 Defensive MVP), Tony Johnson (7 sacks, NE-10 Defensive Lineman of Year), Justin Marsan (3 interceptions)

Hockey

Record: 25-10-4

Head coach: Mark Dennehy (6th year, 71-118-23)

Top performers: Stephane Da Costa (14-31-45, 2nd team All-American), Jesse Todd (17 goals), Jordan Heywood (plus-23 rating), Joe Cannata (25 wins, 2.48 goals-against, .911 save percentage), Joe Cucci (370 face-off wins)

Men's Lacrosse

Record: 11-6

Head coach: Mike Morgan (4th year, 50-16)

Top performers: Corey Lunney (39 goals, 53 points, New England Division 2 MVP), Mike Perdie (18 assists), Connor Reagan (11 wins, 7.61 goals-against)

Men's Soccer

Record: 9-8-1

Head coach: Tony Martone (29th year, 281-238-40)

Top performers: Robbie Sabadoz (9 goals, 5 assists, All-NE-10), Evan Burokas (9 assists, 2nd team All-NE-10), Kevin Joyce (1.31 goals-against, 9 wins)

Men's Tennis

Record: 5-1

Head coach: Chris Stevens (6th year, 75-40)

Top performers: Peter Golljanin (6-0), Tim McHugh (6-0), Sean Pahler (4-1), Chris Barnhart (3-0)

Men's Track and Field

Finish at New Englands: 20th

Head coach: Matt Pimentel (1st year)

Top finishers at New Englands: Jesse Fowler (4th, 100 & 200 meters in 11.04 and 22.35)

Women's Basketball

Record: 10-17

Head coach: Helen Williams (5th year, 47-93)

Top performers: Gennifer Roy (12.1 points), Tiffany Colon (9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds), Kelly Schatzlein (11.6 points)

Note: Williams resigned and was replaced by Monique LeBlanc

Women's Cross Country

Best finish: 3rd at 7-tea, Shacklette Invitational

Head coach: Chris Cameron (17th year)

Top performances: Briana Devereaux (8th in field of 67 at Shacklette)

Field Hockey

Record: 8-11

Head coach: Anne Rounce (3rd year, 26-33)

Top performers: Jamie Spano (7 goals), Jen Otis (7 goals), April Daugherty (18 points, 6 assists), Kerri Bergquist (2.54 goals-against, 8 wins)

Women's Lacrosse

Record: 12-7

Head coach: Corinne Baker (4th year, 40-24)

Top performers: Colleen Strachan (50-21—71), Mary Pasquantonio (52 goals, 2nd team All-NE-10), Inna Hedden (11.2 goals-against, 12 wins)

Women's Soccer

Record: 12-5-3

Head coach: Gabe Mejail (27th year, 411-171-44)

Top performers: Danielle Dion (8 goals. 2nd team All-New England), Jessie DeGraan (6 assists, All-New England), Kiley Horne (0.98 goals-against, 12 wins)

Women's Tennis

Record: 3-2

Head coach: Chris Stevens (6th year, 51-60)

Top performers: Kylie Waddington (4-0), Alyx Barnes (3-1), Mollie Fitzgerald (3-2), Courtney Garvey (3-2)

Women's Track

Head coach: Matt Pimentel (1st year)

Top finishers at New Englands: 4x800 relay (14th, 9:44.68), Brianna Devereaux (24th, 1,500 meters, 4:54.07)

Volleyball

Record: 12-14

Head coach: Joey Pacis (8th year, 117-116)

Top performers: Molly Cindric (337 kills, four-time first-team All-NE-10), Elyse Lorenz (846 assists), Alyssa Pickert (358 digs, NE-10 Libero of the Year), Jenna Reilly (81 blocks)

Note: Pacis resigned and was replaced by T.J. Hajjar

Softball

Record: 31-23

Head coach: Elaine Schwager (6th year, 123-143)

Top performers: Kelli Jo Deardorff (23-16 record, 2.27 ERA, 159 Ks, All-NE-10), Monique Gosselin (.315 average, 17 homers, 42 RBI, All-NE-10), Tawny Palmieri (.401 average, 33 RBI, All-NE-10)

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