Merrimack Warriors

Summary

The Merrimack Warriors are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Merrimack College, located in North Andover, Massachusetts, in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sporting competitions. All of the Warrior athletic teams compete at the Division I level. Men's and women's ice hockey compete in the Hockey East conference, and men's lacrosse competes in the America East Conference, while the remaining teams are members of the Northeast Conference.[2] Starting July 1, 2024, Merrimack will leave the NEC, and its primary affiliation for sports will be in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.[3]

Merrimack Warriors
Logo
UniversityMerrimack College
ConferenceNortheast Conference
Hockey East (men's and women's ice hockey)
America East Conference (men's lacrosse)
NCAANCAA Division I
Athletic directorJeremy Gibson
LocationNorth Andover, Massachusetts
Varsity teams22
Football stadiumDuane Stadium
Basketball arenaHammel Court
Ice hockey arenaLawler Rink
Baseball stadiumGreater Lawrence Technical School
Softball stadiumMartone-Mejail Field
Soccer stadiumMartone-Mejail Field
Lacrosse stadiumDuane Stadium
NicknameWarriors
Fight songDown in the Valley of Victory
ColorsBlue and gold[1]
   
Websitemerrimackathletics.com

The college's combination of academic and athletic success has garnered Merrimack the #4 ranking in the country among NCAA Division II schools in the Top 100 Collegiate Power Rankings that are published by the National College Scouting Association. In addition, Merrimack finished 96th in the overall NCSA Power Rankings across all three NCAA divisions.

During the 2019–20 season Merrimack began their four-year transition from Division II to Division I and became a full Division I member in the 2023–24 season, making Merrimack eligible for all NCAA tournaments.[4]

History edit

Highlights of Merrimack athletic history includes three national championships: the 1978 men's hockey team won the Division II men's ice hockey championship; the 1994 women's softball team won the Division II Women's College World Series and men's lacrosse won the 2018 National Title. In 2006, Merrimack football became Northeast-10 co-champions and received their first NCAA Division II playoff bid to go on to win their first NCAA playoff game. In 2012, Merrimack men's tennis became Northeast-10 champions, led by senior captains Max Eppley and Sean Pahler, and first-year head coach Sean Tully. This was Merrimack's first-ever men's tennis championship.[5]

Varsity teams edit

Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Bowling
Cross country Cross country
Football Dance
Golf Field hockey
Ice hockey Golf
Lacrosse Ice hockey
Soccer Lacrosse
Tennis Rowing
Track & field Soccer
Volleyball Softball
Swimming & diving
Tennis
Track & field
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.

Football edit

Merrimack has made one appearance in the NCAA Division II football playoffs; their record is 1–1.[6]

Year Round Opponent Result
2006 First Round
Second Round
Southern Connecticut
Shepherd
W, 28–26
L, 7–31
Playoff record 1–1

Conferences edit

Soccer edit

Merrimack College men's soccer team made school history in 2012 with the program's first-ever NCAA Division II national tournament berth. After finishing in first place in the Northeast-10 regular season, the men's soccer team went on to win the first round of the tournament against rivals Franklin Pierce University, but were knocked out the following round by Northeast-10 rivals Southern New Hampshire University. The 2012 men's soccer team was led by head coach Anthony Martone and assistant coaches Derek Valego, Michael Allen, Eric Ernst and Sam Nunes. The team was led on the field by captains Alejandro Fuchs of Caracas, Venezuela and Nelson da Graca of Gothenburg, Sweden.

NCAA championships edit

 
Merrimack versus Boston College (Andrew Braithwaite pictured)

National championships edit

  • Men's ice hockey: 1978
  • Softball: 1994
  • Men's lacrosse: 2018, 2019

Regional championships edit

  • Women's basketball: 2004, 2005
  • Women's soccer: 1996

Appearances edit

  • Baseball: 1995, 1996, 2018
  • Men's basketball: 1977, 1978, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010
  • Women's basketball: 2003, 2004, 2005
  • Football: 2006
  • Men's ice hockey:
    • Division II: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984
    • Division I: 1988, 2011
  • Men's lacrosse: 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • Women's soccer: 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
  • Softball: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2011
  • Men's tennis: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
  • Women's tennis: 2009
  • Women's volleyball: 2007, 2008

Conference championships edit

Northeast edit

  • Men's basketball: 2020, 2023
  • Men's soccer: 2019
  • Women's soccer: 2023

Northeast-10 edit

  • Baseball: 1990, 1995, 1996, 2018
  • Men's basketball: 2000, 2019
  • Women's basketball: 2004
  • Women's cross country: 1997, 1998, 1999[7]
  • Men's lacrosse: 2000, 2010, 2018
  • Men's soccer: 1995, 1996, 1997, 2017
  • Women's soccer: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999
  • Softball: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002
  • Men's tennis: 2012, 2013, 2015

ECAC edit

  • Hockey: 1967, 1968, 1977, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1989
  • Men's soccer: 1997
  • Women's soccer: 1988, 2000

References edit

  1. ^ "Merrimack College Brand Guidelines". Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  2. ^ "Merrimack College Accepts Invitation to Join the Northeast Conference" (Press release). Northeast Conference. September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  3. ^ "MAAC Welcomes Merrimack College and Sacred Heart University as Newest Full Members". maacsports.com. 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  4. ^ Dauster, Rob (September 10, 2018). "Division I men's basketball set to add another member". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  5. ^ "Merrimack Claims First Men's Tennis Championship in School History". April 21, 2012 – via www.northeast10.org. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "2006 NCAA Division II National Football Championship Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 14. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  7. ^ Northeast-10 Women's Cross Country All-Time Champions

External links edit

  • Official website