Connect with us

College Sports

Harvard

Story Links CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard-Radcliffe heavyweight rowing has officially announced its 2025 spring racing schedule, featuring six highly anticipated events across the season. The Black and White will race in a mix of regular season regattas, home competitions, and postseason championships.The season culminates with the NCAA Championship regatta, which will take place from Friday, […]

Published

on

Harvard

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Harvard-Radcliffe heavyweight rowing has officially announced its 2025 spring racing schedule, featuring six highly anticipated events across the season. The Black and White will race in a mix of regular season regattas, home competitions, and postseason championships.The season culminates with the NCAA Championship regatta, which will take place from Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1 in West Windsor, N.J.

After completing the regular season, Harvard-Radcliffe will travel to Worcester, Mass. on Sunday, May 4, to race in the Women’s Sprints, an annual showdown featuring the top teams from the Northeast. From there, the team will head to Camden, N.J., for the Ivy League Championship on Saturday, May 10, looking to defend their Ivy dominance.The season kicks off on Saturday, April 12, when Harvard-Radcliffe heads to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to face off against Princeton and Cornell in the Class of 1975 Cup. Following that, the team travels south to Sarasota, Florida, for the Big Ten Invitational on April 18-19.The Black and White will host their only home event of the season on Saturday, April 26, welcoming Yale and Tennessee to the Charles River for the Case Cup.

2025 Harvard-Radcliffe Heavyweight Rowing Schedule

  • Saturday, April 12 – Class of 1975 Cup – Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (vs. Princeton and Cornell)
  • Friday-Saturday, April 18-19 – Big Ten Invitational – Sarasota, Fla.
  • Saturday, April 26 – Case Cup – Cambridge, Mass. (vs. Yale and Tennessee)
  • Sunday, May 4 – Women’s Sprints – Worcester, Mass.
  • Saturday, May 10 – Ivy League Championship – Camden, N.J.
  • Friday-Sunday, May 30-June 1 – NCAA Championship – West Windsor, N.J.
Print Friendly Version

College Sports

Piercing The Veil: How LSU Football Raised The Funds It Needed To Compete For A Championship This Coming Season

LSU coach Brian Kelly, (Photo by Michael Bacigalupi). When Brian Kelly and GM Austin Thomas strode into the sleek headquarters of Baton Rouge’s MMR Group last December, few boosters realized they were witnessing a turning point in LSU football. In an in-depth report for TheAdvocate.com, Wilson Alexander peels back the curtain on how the Tigers […]

Published

on


Brian Kelly, LSU
LSU coach Brian Kelly, (Photo by Michael Bacigalupi).

When Brian Kelly and GM Austin Thomas strode into the sleek headquarters of Baton Rouge’s MMR Group last December, few boosters realized they were witnessing a turning point in LSU football. In an in-depth report for TheAdvocate.com, Wilson Alexander peels back the curtain on how the Tigers went from lagging behind their SEC peers in NIL dollars to assembling what Kelly now calls “the best roster I’ve had in four years.”

A Fundraising Grind Born of Necessity

After consecutive seasons slipping below expectations—each costing Kelly at least three games—LSU faced a stark reality: to compete for championships, it had to out-raise funds in the new name, image and likeness arena. Enter Pepper Rutland, MMR’s founder, former LSU linebacker and long-time donor. Kelly’s first visit to Rutland’s office set the tone for a campaign that would lean heavily on convincing community leaders to buy into an ambitious NIL business plan.

“We had to go around the community,” Kelly told Alexander. “Show them our game plan—how we’d retain talent and recruit top transfers.” Their goal: raise at least $13 million in the Bayou Traditions collective before the transfer portal swung wide open. By comparison, LSU had spent $11 million on NIL in the previous three seasons, $5.5 million of it just last year. The stakes were clear: without more cash, key contributors would bolt, and top-tier transfers would look elsewhere.

Borrowing from the Pros

In a savvy twist, Thomas and AD Scott Woodward used LSU’s open week last fall to visit the Seattle Seahawks. They wanted a front-row seat to NFL salary‐cap mechanics, and to test their roster‐management ideas against a professional blueprint. “It was validation,” Woodward said. Thomas dialed in further refinement with contacts in Houston, sharpening LSU’s valuation model so the Tigers could hand out contracts with near‐NFL precision—while still staying under the looming collegiate cap.

That cap, a product of the pending House settlement, would let schools dole out up to $20.5 million in 2025-26, with an annual increase tied to revenue growth. LSU aims to allocate $13.5 million for football, split between two seasons. Bayou Traditions front-loaded $10 million in early 2025—dollars that skirt the revenue‐sharing threshold—so Kelly could promise recruits “an assertive, confident contract” without fear of clawbacks.

Building A Formula for Spending

Austin Thomas is no stranger to these high-stakes auctions. First tapped as LSU’s general manager in 2016, he was part of the 2019 national title run before a stint building Texas A&M’s Orange Bowl roster and back-to-back top-two transfer classes at Ole Miss. Rehired by LSU last spring, Thomas implemented a position‐by‐position valuation system inspired by NFL spending. Move one figure, and the spreadsheet rebalances automatically—let you know in real-time when to walk away or when to lean in.

That technology—house-built in partnership with NextGen Prospect—started as advanced scouting tools in early 2022. Under Thomas, it evolved into a unified platform marrying scouting, recruiting boards and budgetary controls. When the portal window creaked open, LSU could upload every prospect instantly and visualize who fit within their cap model. “That real-time transparency was a game‐changer,” Thomas says, “especially during crunch time.”

A Calculated Dive Into The Portal

Kelly has always favored home-grown talent, supplementing with transfers when necessary. But a year ago, LSU’s modest nine-man portal class left the Tigers short at defensive tackle and other key spots. Recognizing that philosophy hadn’t panned out, the staff spent last summer drilling into every Power Five player’s film, background and projected value. By August, LSU had a national board of portal targets—a readiness strategy tailor-made for December’s sprint.

And sprint they did. In a two-week blitz before the portal opened, the Tigers matched up to 25 donors with Thomas’s valuation analytics, Woodward’s business plan and Kelly’s transparent pitch. They hit their $13 million NIL goal, including multiple seven-figure gifts sparked by listening to donors’ fear of falling behind—an anxiety crystalized when five-star QB Bryce Underwood flipped to Michigan. “It was an ‘aha’ moment,” Woodward recalls. “All of a sudden, people saw the urgency.”

The Payoff: 18 transfers

When LSU’s portal window closed, the Tigers had added 18 transfers—most in the Kelly era—equaling Miami and Texas Tech atop 247Sports’ transfer rankings. Seven newcomers were top-100 talents with a combined 262 career starts, and all except two came from Power Five programs. Kelly’s strict criteria—“frontline starters with experience”—meant no punts on projects from Ivy League schools. This was a roster designed to win now.

Back in the spring, sophomore edge Gabriel Reliford admitted he wondered, “Are they trying to replace me?” The coaching staff’s response: competition breeds excellence. And by opening up donor access—Kelly calls them “shareholders”—the staff gained an unprecedented level of accountability. “I’d never done it this way,” Kelly said. “But that’s what we needed to get the impact our program needed.”

A Blueprint for the Future?

LSU doesn’t expect to replicate an 18-man class every year. The Tigers still aim to lean on high-school recruiting and player retention—evident in their current No. 4 recruiting class for 2026. Yet as Alexander’s deep dive shows, 2024 was a “unique situation”: a confluence of donor skepticism, a looming cap structure and a roster that needed immediate overhaul. The result is a team, Kelly insists, “poised to play with anybody in the SEC.”

Now comes the real test: meshing a patchwork of newcomers with returning stars before a brutal opener at Clemson and an unforgiving conference slate. But if Alexander’s reporting is any guide, LSU’s off-season blueprint—fueled by booster buy-in, pro-style analytics and an “all-in” portal philosophy—has given the Tigers a shot at the College Football Playoff that once seemed out of reach. In Kelly’s own words: We needed help. Now, we don’t.



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

Felix, S. Williams, Krzyzewski, Miller among USOPC 2025 HOF class

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Seven-time gold medal sprinter Allyson Felix, four-time Olympic tennis champion Serena Williams and Mike Krzyzewski, who coached the U.S. to three basketball gold medals, are part of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame’s class of 2025. Gymnastics champion Gabby Douglas, skiing’s Bode Miller, beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh […]

Published

on


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Seven-time gold medal sprinter Allyson Felix, four-time Olympic tennis champion Serena Williams and Mike Krzyzewski, who coached the U.S. to three basketball gold medals, are part of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame’s class of 2025.

Gymnastics champion Gabby Douglas, skiing’s Bode Miller, beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings and Nike founder Phil Knight are also in the group that will be inducted at a ceremony in Colorado Springs on July 12.

Others inductees are Steve Cash (sled hockey), Anita DeFrantz (longtime IOC member, rower), Susan Hagel (Para archery, Para track and field, wheelchair basketball), Flo Hyman (volleyball) and Marla Runyan (Para track and field), along with the 2010 four-man Olympic bobsled team led by Steve Holcomb, and the 2004 women’s wheelchair basketball team.

“We’re proud to welcome the Class of 2025 into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame and to honor the extraordinary accomplishments they’ve made as representatives of Team USA,” USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said in a statement. “This induction celebrates not only their remarkable performances and lasting impact but also acknowledges the essential contributions of those who supported their journeys every step of the way. Earning a place in the Hall of Fame is no small feat-especially given the incredible talent across this year’s group of finalists.”

The Hall of Fame’s inaugural class was inducted in 1983, and this will be the first class inducted since 2022. It will bring the total number of those enshrined to 210.

Copyright © 2025 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

University of New Haven Accepts Northeast Conference Membership Invite

Story Links Bridgewater, NJ — The University of New Haven has accepted a full membership invitation from the Northeast Conference (NEC) Council of Presidents and will officially join the league on July 1, 2025. The announcement was made today by NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris and University of New Haven President Jens Frederiksen, […]

Published

on


Bridgewater, NJ — The University of New Haven has accepted a full membership invitation from the Northeast Conference (NEC) Council of Presidents and will officially join the league on July 1, 2025. The announcement was made today by NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris and University of New Haven President Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D.

Located on Connecticut’s southern coast, New Haven will begin its transition to NCAA Division I and the NEC during the 2025-26 academic year. The Chargers will attain full Division I membership in 2028-29 following the NCAA-mandated reclassification period.

“We are thrilled to welcome the University of New Haven to the Northeast Conference family,” said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. “Making the move to Division I is a bold step, and we’re honored that New Haven chose to take that step with us. From the start, it was clear that they share our values – putting academics, competitive excellence and the student-athlete experience at the forefront. I want to thank President Jens Frederiksen and Athletic Director Devin Crosby for their thoughtful leadership throughout this process. I’m also grateful to the NEC Council of Presidents for their support and shared vision as we continue to shape the future of the conference. We’re excited to partner with the Chargers as they make their mark in Division I and help elevate the NEC.”

Beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, New Haven is set to become the NEC’s tenth full-time member. The Chargers will join NEC charter members Fairleigh Dickinson University, Long Island University, Saint Francis University and Wagner College, along with Central Connecticut State University (joined in 1997), Stonehill College (2022), Le Moyne College (2023), Chicago State University (2024) and Mercyhurst University (2024).

A member of the Northeast-10 (NE10) Conference since 2008, New Haven sponsors 20 varsity programs, 19 of which align with NEC sponsored sports. The Chargers field teams in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track & field (indoor and outdoor) and women’s volleyball. The Chargers also sponsor women’s rugby.

New Haven will be integrated into NEC athletic schedules beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, with the exception of football. The timing of New Haven football’s addition to the conference schedule is still to be determined.

During its reclassification, the Chargers will immediately be able to participate in NEC Championships in NCAA non-automatic qualifier sports: cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field. New Haven athletic programs will gain full NEC Championship access as early as the 2026-27 academic year, but no later than 2027-28. Per conference policy, no more than two schools undergoing reclassification may have full championship access at the same time. As the third NEC member currently in transition, New Haven’s timeline is contingent on when the others complete their process. The Chargers will become eligible for NCAA Championship competition in 2028-29, upon successful completion of their reclassification period.

“We are thrilled about this opportunity for the University of New Haven,” said President Frederiksen. “Athletics has been and continues to be a vital driver of enrollment and brand recognition for the University. This move to the Northeast Conference and Division I positions the University for an exciting future – one consistent with the overall strategic focus on academic, professional and global return on investment.”

Devin Crosby, New Haven’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, shared his excitement about the university’s transition to Division I and its new partnership with the NEC.

“This is about positioning ourselves at the highest level,” said Crosby. “The University of New Haven’s momentum under President Frederiksen’s leadership aligns naturally with our transition to NCAA Division I and the Northeast Conference. The Blue & Gold deserve this.”
The University of New Haven is a private institution founded in 1920 on the campus of Yale University.

Nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report, New Haven offers more than 105 majors and has earned acclaim for academic excellence across a wide range of disciplines. Its forensic science program has been ranked No. 1 in the country, and the University also holds top national rankings in homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting. The University’s M.S. in Sports Management ranks among the top 10 globally and is No. 1 worldwide for graduate outcomes. New Haven also offers the only CAHME-accredited Master of Healthcare Administration program located between New York City and Boston.

New Haven boasts a proud athletic tradition, producing a National League Cy Young Award winner, a Harlon Hill Trophy recipient and a five-time NCAA track and field champion. The Chargers have enjoyed national success across multiple sports: women’s basketball captured the national championship in 1987, men’s basketball reached the NCAA quarterfinals in 2023 and women’s volleyball has made 37 NCAA Tournament appearances. On the gridiron, New Haven has ranked among the best in Division II and is one of only five football programs – and the only private school – to earn an NCAA playoff bid in each of the past four seasons. Since 2009, the Chargers have captured six conference football titles and play on a distinctive blue-and-gold field at DellaCamera Stadium, widely regarded as one of the most unique venues in Connecticut.

In 2023, the University unveiled the Peterson Performance Center, a state-of-the-art facility featuring a 7,000 square foot weight room, a 60-yard turf training area, a 1,500 square foot sports medicine center, a 2,500 square foot football locker room and a nutrition station overseen by a registered dietitian. Plans are also underway for a major renovation of the Jeffery P. Hazell Athletics Center, with enhancements including upgraded locker rooms, expanded seating and viewing areas, additional team meeting space and coaches’ offices, and a reimagined lobby to honor Charger legends and the program’s championship legacy.
For media inquiries, please contact Carolyn Meyer (University of New Haven Media Relations Manager) at CMeyer@newhaven.edu or Ron Ratner (NEC Senior Associate Commissioner) at rratner@northeastconference.org.

About the Northeast Conference
Now in its 44th season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of nine institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#8). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#87). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, Saint Francis U, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.

About the University of New Haven
The University of New Haven, founded in 1920, is a private university whose mission is to prepare students to excel and lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a global society. The university offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate programs and has been recognized for academic excellence, nationally and internationally. In addition to its main campus in West Haven, the university has campuses in Orange, Conn., and Tuscany, Italy. For more information about the University of New Haven, visit www.newhaven.edu.     
 



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

Saint Joseph’s Men’s Lacrosse Players Earn Conference Honors

Story Links WINTHROP, MA- Junior defender Kevin Wood (Danvers, MA), junior attack Tiger Hopkins (Leeds, ME), and senior Anthony Samiotes (Hampstead, NH) received All-Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) honors as announced by the conference office today.  Kevin Wood, a key force on the Monks’ defensive unit, has been named to the All-Conference […]

Published

on


WINTHROP, MA- Junior defender Kevin Wood (Danvers, MA), junior attack Tiger Hopkins (Leeds, ME), and senior Anthony Samiotes (Hampstead, NH) received All-Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) honors as announced by the conference office today. 

Kevin Wood, a key force on the Monks’ defensive unit, has been named to the All-Conference Second Team. A steady presence on the back line, Wood consistently shut down opposing attackers and led the Monks in caused turnovers. 

On the offensive end, attack Tiger Hopkins was named All-Conference Third Team. Hopkins showcased his dynamic scoring ability and playmaking vision throughout the season. Hopkins was a major contributor to the Monks’ offense all season long, leading the team in assists and points.

Anthony Samiotes was selected to the All-Sportsmanship Team, highlighting his commitment to integrity, leadership, and respect for the game. Samiotes exemplified the spirit of sportsmanship throughout the season.

For the complete list of all-conference honorees, major award winners, and all-sportsmanship selections, please see below.

2025 Men’s Lacrosse All-GNAC Teams

ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

A – Michael Ference, Rivier

A – Diego Alvarez-Segee, Dean

A – Jack Condon, Lasell

M – Cole Cloney, Emmanuel

M – Aidan D’Amato, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)

M – Coby Mercier, Rivier

D – Adam Hailey, Rivier

D – Jack Antico, Emmanuel

D – Bubba Baumeister, Lasell

GK – Sawyer Gagnon, Rivier

FOM – Nathan Powers, Anna Maria

LSM – Francis Pino, Lasell

SSDM – Ty Carroll, Emmanuel

ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM

A – Cooper Mehlhorn, Emmanuel

A – Daniel Varga, New England College

A – Alec Speirs, Dean

M – Braxton Bragg, Emmanuel

M – Chris Heitmiller, Rivier

M – Jason Martin, Lasell

D – Clayton Cisar, Norwich

D – Kevin Wood, Saint Joseph’s (Maine)

D – CJ Denson, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)

GK – Trey McCann, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)

FOM – Matthew Carbone, Lasell

LSM – Jackson Kain, New England College

SSDM – Joseph O’Reilly, Rivier                                                                                            

ALL-CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM

A – Henri Pfeifle, New England College

A – Drew Fleury, Norwich

A – Tiger HopkinsSaint Joseph’s (Maine)

M – Sam Guilmette, Lasell

M – Donny McInnis, Johnson & Wales

M – Jacob Tresser, Johnson & Wales

D – Scott Miller, Rivier

D – David Hill, Johnson & Wales

D – Trevor Reid, Johnson & Wales

GK – Michael Catalano, Lasell

FOM – Owen McDuffie, Rivier

LSM – Evan Decker, Emmanuel

SSDM – Jack Donnelly, Johnson & Wales 

ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM

Cooper Strecker, Albertus Magnus

Matthew Brooker, Anna Maria

Isaiah Williams, Dean

Sam Yan, Emmanuel

Donny McInnis, Johnson & Wales

Kieran Oliver, Lasell

Cameron Haefs, Mitchell

Jared O’Connor, New England College

Cole Funk, Norwich

Brendan Cook, Regis

Owen McDuffieRivier

Anthony Samiotes, Saint Joseph’s (Maine)

Nick Pulcini, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)

MAJOR AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Year – Michael Ference, Rivier

Defensive Player of the Year – Adam Hailey, Rivier

Goalkeeper of the Year – Sawyer Gagnon, Rivier

Faceoff Specialist of the Year – Nathan Powers, Anna Maria

Rookie of the Year – Jack Condon, Lasell

Coach of the Year – Dieter Treusdell, Lasell

Institutional Sportsmanship – Mitchell College



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

SMU Football recruiting surge signals power shift in DWF

Once seen as a regional program on the outside looking in, the SMU Mustangs have transformed into a recruiting juggernaut, especially in the high-stakes Dallas-Fort Worth battleground. With high-level talent flowing into their locker room, it’s no longer a surprise when SMU beats out SEC programs. Rhett Lashlee and his staff are winning in their […]

Published

on


Once seen as a regional program on the outside looking in, the SMU Mustangs have transformed into a recruiting juggernaut, especially in the high-stakes Dallas-Fort Worth battleground. With high-level talent flowing into their locker room, it’s no longer a surprise when SMU beats out SEC programs.

Rhett Lashlee and his staff are winning in their own backyard. The DFW is one of the most fertile recruiting grounds in the country, long dominated by schools like Texas, Oklahoma, and LSU.

Advertisement

But that tide is turning fast. SMU’s aggressive push for top-tier talent is forcing traditional powers to rethink their strategy. As Locked In Oklahoma’s Grayson Singleton put it, “SMU is getting the blue chippers in DFW. And that’s a problem… not just for Oklahoma, that’s a problem for Texas, LSU, Arkansas… This is the fastest rising program in the country.”



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

Northeastern women’s hockey paves the way for women’s sports, one win at a time

As the blaring sound of the final buzzer went off, the crowd erupted in cheers. Members of the Northeastern women’s hockey team threw their gloves in the air and skated toward their goalie, freshman Lisa Jönsson, to celebrate a memory that would last a lifetime — and a major moment for women’s sports. On Jan. […]

Published

on


As the blaring sound of the final buzzer went off, the crowd erupted in cheers. Members of the Northeastern women’s hockey team threw their gloves in the air and skated toward their goalie, freshman Lisa Jönsson, to celebrate a memory that would last a lifetime — and a major moment for women’s sports.

On Jan. 21, the Northeastern women’s hockey team won their third consecutive Beanpot championship, defeating Boston University to secure their 20th overall Beanpot title. In what was only their second tournament appearance at TD Garden, the Northeastern women’s hockey team demonstrated, once again, how even modest investment into women’s sports can yield positive results. 

Throughout the history of sports, men’s leagues developed decades before their women’s league counterparts. On top of that, it’s only in the last few years that women’s sports have seen increased visibility and growing support. The NBA was founded in 1946 while the WNBA was founded 50 years later in 1996. The MLS was founded in 1993 while the National Women’s Soccer League, or NWSL, was founded in 2012, and the NHL was founded in 1917 while the Professional Women’s Hockey League, or PWHL, was founded over 100 years later in 2023. Despite these disparities in establishment and coverage, female athletes have consistently navigated the evolving landscape of sports with resilience, contributing to a culture of excellence. 

But how is this standard set? Who inspires these athletes to become the role models young girls look up to? What defines players like senior forward Skylar Irving and junior forward Holly Abela, and how did they reach this level?

It often begins with early influences — sometimes a parent, and often a professional player. In Irving’s case, it was athletes like Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby and Northeastern alum and PWHL forward Kendall Coyne. With few female professional hockey role models, Irving was especially inspired by Coyne, who remained dedicated to the sport while balancing motherhood and advocating for greater recognition of women’s hockey.

“She was definitely one of my biggest inspirations as a female hockey player,” Irving said.  “Just being able to watch her and see what she did every single day, it was so cool.”

Irving also drew inspiration from her upperclassmen teammates who taught her lessons beyond the ice. 

“They were incredible, and they were just good people and good athletes,” Irving said. “They kind of just showed me that hockey is not just about how good you are on the ice, but it’s about how much you love your teammates, how much you care.” 

Immersed in hockey from a young age, Irving was introduced to the sport at 2 years old when she could first hold a stick. She’s been on skates since she could walk and has played organized hockey since she was 4 years old. 

“I’m 23 right now and I’m still playing and still loving the game as much as I did when I first picked up a stick,” Irving said. 

Every child dreams about what they want to do or who they want to become, but to be able to live out your childhood dreams in your adult life is something only few can achieve. For many female athletes, that option hasn’t always been available.

“Growing up, there was never a professional league for younger players to look up to. So, college was sort of the end of the road that people are fighting to get to,” Abela said. “There was never a PWHL and now that there is, I think that’s so exciting, because I’ve watched girls that I’ve played with on my university team from my freshman year that are now in the league.” 

With influential figures paving the way for more opportunities for everyone, an increasing number of female athletes are now able to envision a future in which they can continue their craft. 

Reflecting on her start at Northeastern, Abela expressed her gratitude to have had a teammate and role model like Alina Müller. Müller played as a forward for the Northeastern women’s hockey team from 2018 to 2022 and now plays for the Boston Fleet. 

“She kind of took me under her wing and she showed me what it means to be a true professional in every way,” Abela said. “To see that out of a female athlete was just so inspiring, because as a little girl, you don’t get to see that very often.”

Similar to Irving, Abela also started her hockey journey early. She started skating at 4 years old and started playing hockey around six. A major influence for Abela was her father, who drove her passion for the sport. It was this passion combined with her commitment and love for the game that allowed her to get to the point she’s at now in her hockey career. 

“When I leave this place, I know that we’ve left it in a good spot; it’s a place people know that when they come here, there’s a standard — we’re a team that doesn’t give up,” Abela said. “It sets the expectation for those girls coming along to keep it competitive, to keep the league strong and to improve the generational talent of women’s hockey. I know the girls coming in will look up to that, and they’ll strive for the same goals.” 

The packed DogHouse cheers at the Beanpot semfinals Jan. 14. The Professional Women’s Hockey League brought more attention to women’s hockey, despite being founded over a 100 years after the NHL. (Jessica Xing)

The legacy players and teams leave behind is possible because of the collective effort and dedication of all parties involved. For games like the Beanpot, the culture and support in the atmosphere is important as the players in these games are not only passionate about hockey but representing their schools and communities as well. 

Despite their different backgrounds, a common trait amongst many athletes is hard work, dedication and love for the sports they play. The difference for female athletes is that oftentimes, they’re not only competing against one another to make it to the next level but fighting a system that has historically presented additional barriers. 

The men’s Beanpot tournament has been played at TD Garden since 1996, while the women’s Beanpot tournament has only been held at TD Garden since 2024 — moreover, the women only play at the stadium for the final match-up, unlike their male counterparts who play their semifinal rounds at TD Garden as well. Despite the struggle, this recent progress proves that there may be a future in which the disparities between men’s and women’s sports will decrease. 

“It’s so special that we have kind of been able to be a part of that growth,” Irving said. “I think that [the team is] gonna do great things, and I’m always gonna be cheering them on. I’m always proud to be a Husky.” 

With the rise of the PWHL, the future of women’s hockey has also become more stable.

“They’ve done a great job marketing their product, and it’s something that people are excited about. And I think that’s starting to trickle down into the collegiate level, because it’s gaining traction,” said Northeastern women’s hockey assistant coach Melissa Piacentini. “I think it’s grown so much, and it still has so far to go.”

The culture established by schools and teams allows for the growth of student-athletes beyond their respective sports. University coaches aim to help their players not only grow in their professional fields but also as people. 

“I think for me, that is what I’m gonna take away most about this whole place — that they helped me develop into the best person that I could be. And I feel like, when you go to college, that’s kind of your end goal,” Irving said. “Everybody pushes you every single day here, like you’re always expected to bring greatness into everything that you do.” 

Hoping to continue to embody the lessons and values she’s learned, Irving has proven to be a role model not only for her teammates, but for young girls as she coaches youth leagues back home in Kingston, Massachusetts. 

“My greatest privilege in life is coaching kids and seeing their progress and them growing. It’s just a special feeling that you really can’t describe,” Irving said. “I just want them to know that they’re gonna be able to accomplish whatever they want to.”

When looking at the growth of her athletes, Piacentini shared how one of the biggest things she hopes her players take away is the experience of playing a game they love with people they care about. 

“I hope they recognize how special it is to have their teammates around them, and it goes so much further than hockey,” Piacentini said. “So when they graduate, they’ll have a good group of friends that they can carry forward in their lifetime.”

At Northeastern, athletes like Irving and Abela pride themselves in being a part of a community that upholds a high standard of success and hard work. 

“I think they’ve been great leaders for our program. I really do think Northeastern has a great culture, and it’s because the people that are in the program, they’re the ones that have built that, and they take it seriously to maintain it,” Piacentini said. 

The Northeastern women’s hockey team’s players have won numerous awards, earned 20 Beanpot titles, won six consecutive Hockey East titles from 2018 to 2023 and have made seven NCAA tournament appearances. Even in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, despite not winning the Hockey East title, the team still made it to the finals.

“I think it’s funny when you add a little bit of money to a sport and you give some girls attention, what they can do with it,” said graduate student defenseman Lily Yovetich in a viral video after this year’s Beanpot win. “I think everyone should take a page out of our book and really put some more time and effort into women’s everything.” 





Link

Continue Reading
Sports2 minutes ago

Missouri State Sets New Single-Year APR Mark

Motorsports4 minutes ago

Get Direct Access to New Buyers at the 2025 PRI Show—Secure Your Booth Space NowPerformance Racing Industry

Motorsports5 minutes ago

Denny Hamlin says NASCAR is gaslighting its fans

Rec Sports8 minutes ago

Sliding mitts are baseball’s ‘must-have,’ even if at youth levels, they’re all fashion, no function | National

Technology9 minutes ago

Automation Workz Creates Tech Skill Coaching to Solve the AI Workforce Readiness Crisis – NORTHEAST

Technology10 minutes ago

Hydrogen Fitness Flexes Franchise FastLane’s CarPool Program to Strengthen Franchise Growth

NIL12 minutes ago

Paul Finebaum floats Nick Saban as potential Tommy Tuberville replacement after recent Donald Trump comments

NIL16 minutes ago

Cat Petteys Wins BIG EAST Freshman of the Year

Sports18 minutes ago

Princeton University

Sports19 minutes ago

Volleyball Star Lexi Rodriguez of The Digital Renegades Named 95th AAU James E. Sullivan Award Winner

College Sports20 minutes ago

Piercing The Veil: How LSU Football Raised The Funds It Needed To Compete For A Championship This Coming Season

Sports24 minutes ago

South Carolina Releases APR Scores – University of South Carolina Athletics

Motorsports25 minutes ago

AB Motorsports Partners with Centroid Performance Racing to Expand Scope of FAB Machining

Motorsports26 minutes ago

Championship weekend site rotation won’t include Daytona

Youtube28 minutes ago

De’Aaron Fox loses his shoe & still gets the bucket! 😳🦊|#Shorts

Most Viewed Posts

Trending