SEEN AND HEARD
WARRIOR TOP 10 The 2019–20 Merrimack College Athletics campaign was historic in every sense of the term. The Warriors embarked on their inaugural Division I season as members of the Northeast Conference and achieved unprecedented success. From conference championships to monumental victories and much more, Merrimack’s student-athletes proved that they were ready to compete at the highest level of collegiate athletics.
Men’s basketball delivers headlines in first portion of Division I debut Merrimack College made national news in its first Division I season, winning the 2019–20 Northeast Conference Regular Season Championship. It was the first program ever to win a conference title in its first year of DI membership. The Warriors made national headlines throughout the year including a road win at Northwestern to become the second NEC institution ever to beat a Big Ten opponent. The success translated to buzz on campus that resulted in multiple sellout crowds as well as national TV broadcasts from Hammel Court on ESPN3 and CBS Sports Network.
Men’s soccer wins NEC regular season championship
Homecoming Weekend draws largest turnout to date
The men’s soccer team had a perfect inconference season, clinching the regular season championship in dramatic fashion with a game-winning penalty kick in overtime to defeat Fairleigh Dickinson.
On Oct. 5, 2019, more than 10,000 superfans came out to Duane Stadium to cheer on the Merrimack football team as the Warriors faced off against Bryant University.
Big Ten beatdown
Basketball student-athletes win national awards Denia Davis-Stewart ’20 of the women’s basketball team and Juvaris Hayes ’20 of the men’s basketball team received national recognition following the 2019–20 season. Denia was named the NEC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first NEC student-athlete in a decade to win both honors. Juvaris earned the NEC Defensive Player of the Year accolade as well as the Lefty Driesell Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive player.
22
MERRIMACK • WINTER 2021
In the spring, the Merrimack baseball and men’s lacrosse programs accomplished monumental feats by toppling Big Ten opponents. The baseball squad won three of its four games against the Michigan State Spartans, with all three of its victories occurring in come-from-behind fashion. That same weekend, Saturday, Feb. 22, the men’s lacrosse team visited the University of Michigan at The Big House and defeated the Wolverines, 14–12. The Warriors broke an 11–11 tie after three quarters to win by 2 points in the fourth.
