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For Immediate Release September 20, 2010

Northeast Conference To Celebrate 30th Anniversary Anniversary Logo Unveiled; Year-long Promotional Plans Announced

Somerset, NJ - The Northeast Conference (NEC) has turned 30, and to begin a year-long celebration of its history, NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris un- veiled the league’s 30th Anniversary commemorative logo.

The logo will be prominently featured in all of the NEC’s broadcast, digital, social and print media platforms throughout the 2010-11 campaign. The mark will also be displayed at conference championships and special events.

The centerpiece of the anniversary celebration will be the establishment of an NEC Athletic Hall of Fame. The first class, which will include the student- athletes, coaches and administrators who have made a lasting impact on the Conference over the last three decades, will be announced this winter.

To further commerorate the milestone, a host of promotional and multimedia activities will take place in 2010-11 as the Conference pays tribute to its rich heritage.

“The Northeast Conference has grown tremendously over the last 30 years, and we are excited to use this anniversary to recognize and celebrate the historical accomplishments of our student-athletes, coaches and administrators,” said Morris, now in her second year as Commissioner of the conference. “Additionally, the unveiling of the NEC Hall of Fame will give us a forum to continue to celebrate those achievements on an annual basis.”

When the Northeast Conference was first established as the ECAC-Metro Conference in 1981, the league’s founders had one simple goal in mind: to create a competitive Division I men’s conference for unaffiliated schools - which included charter members and current NEC institutions Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island, Robert Morris, St. Francis (NY), Saint Francis (PA) and Wagner - on the Eastern seaboard. A single-sport entity at its inception, even the league’s most ardent supporters during its formative years could not have envisioned a transformation into a burgeoning 12-member, 23-sport conference. Now, 30 years later, member- ship and sport sponsorship continues to grow and access to NCAA automatic bids has expanded to 14 sports.

While times have changed, the goals of the Conference have remained remarkably consistent over the past 30 years. The NEC and its member institutions remain committed to enhancing the experience of its student-athletes, while operating programs that are fully integrated in the academic mission of each institution. Likewise, the Conference continually strives to be an NCAA Division I leader for athletic success, academic achievement and integrity, sportsmanship, equity and diversity, community partnership and national engagement. (2012-13) • Central State University • Fairleigh Dickinson University • • Mount St. Mary’s University • • • St. Francis (NY) College Saint Francis (PA) University • Northeast Conference Celebrating 30 Years • 1981-2010 The Northeast Conference will turn 30 years old this year. To honor the occasion, the league will launch a variety of promotions throughout the year. NEC Membership Tenure · Establishment of NEC Athletic Hall of Fame Current Membership Year Joined The best of the best will be selected from a pool of student-athletes, coaches Bryant^ 2009 Central Connecticut St. 1997 and administrators. Keep an eye out for the first induction class to be Fairleigh Dickinson* 1981 announced this winter. Long Island* 1981 Monmouth 1985 · NEC Flashbacks Mount St. Mary’s 1989 A look back at the performers, performances and special moments that have Quinnipiac 1998 helped define the conference over its 30 years. Special features will be produced Robert Morris* 1981 for the league website, along with video flashbacks and interviews with former Sacred Heart 1999 players, coaches and administrators during televised events. St. Francis (NY)* 1981 St. Francis (PA)* 1981 Wagner* 1981 · “I Was An NEC Athlete” * charter member ^ term begins in 2012 Catching up with former NEC student-athletes, who will reminisce about the Former Members Tenure games, people and moments that most stand out in their minds, and offer 1981-82 updates on their lives post-graduation. Loyola (MD) 1981-89 Marist 1981-97 · NEC “Fan-Fare” Rider 1992-97 NEC fans will be asked to send in their favorite NEC moments to share on the Siena 1981-84 league website and Facebook. In addition, trivia contests will give fans the Towson 1981-82 UMBC 1998-03 opportunity to win Conference apparel.

What Might Have Been NEC Sport Sponsorship NEC Sport Sponsorship Year Added Originally founded as the ECAC Metro Athletic Conference in 1981, league administrators and school officials decided the conference needed a facelift in 1988. The following names were bandied about Men’s Basketball 1981 before ultimately deciding on Northeast Conference. Men’s 1985 Men’s Soccer 1985 North Shore Northeastern Northern Big North Women’s Basketball 1986 Eastern Northeast Eastern Private Intercollegiate Great North Cross Country 1986 Men’s 1986 Northeast Conference Logo Evolution Baseball 1987 1987 Women’s Tennis 1987 Women’s 1987 Men’s Indoor Track & Field 1988 1981-88 Women’s Indoor Track & Field 1991 Outdoor Track & Field 1991 1988-97 1997-Present Women’s Soccer 1995 Football 1996 1998 Women’s Golf 1998 Women’s Lacrosse 1998 Women’s 1999

20th Anniversary Logo 25th Anniversary Logo 30th Anniversary Logo Women’s Bowling 2009 Men’s Lacrosse 2011 Northeast Conference Celebrating 30 Years • 1981-2010

Reproduced below is the press release announcing that the ECAC-Metro Conference changed its name to the North- east Conference. The release was written and distributed by the NEC and is reproduced as it appeared in 1988.

August 2, 1988

RUTHERFORD, NJ — The ECAC-Metro Conference, which began as an 11-school league in 1981, has officially changed its name to the Northeast Conference, according to the an- nouncement made by Commissioner Chris Monasch.

The name change is effected August 1, 1988.

“We feel by going with a new name that we give ourselves our own identity,” says Monasch, who is the Conference’s first full-time commissioner. “Now there is no confusion as to who we are. We are our own entity with a name that is easy to remember and which geographically describes where our membership is located. We feel that this is a new beginning for us.”

The Northeast Conference is comprised of nine members - Fairleigh Dickinson Univer- sity, Long Island University, Loyola College (MD), , Monmouth College, Robert Morris College, St. Francis College (NY), St. Francis College (PA), and Wagner College. The Conference sponsors 12 sports - Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, and Volleyball.

Since the Conference’s inception in 1981, it had been under the umbrella of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), thereby maintaining an automatic bid to the NCAA Basketball Tournament without the customary two-year wait. In 1985, the Conference became one of only five in the nation granted automatic bids to the NCAA Soccer Tourna- ment, a right it continues to hold today.

The Conference was originally under the direction of Frank Syzmanski, who remained as its Executive Director until June, 1987. At that time, Chris Monasch was hired as the Conference’s first full-time commissioner.

Under the direction of Commissioner Monasch, the Conference has continued to pros- per and grow, with its office staff doubling in the past year. The Northeast Conference boasts a full-time associate commissioner for compliance and a full-time assistant commis- sioner for public relations.

With the expansion of the Conference office, which enabled the league to become self-sufficient, “A new name and new identity became necessary,” says Monasch.

The Northeast Conference plans to expand its scope once again, moving to larger and more centralized offices in Woodbridge, NJ, in September. The Conference is currently located in Rutherford, NJ. Northeast Conference Historical Timeline

September, 1981 - ECAC-Metro Conference formed June 16, 1987 - Chris Monasch named first full- February, 1991 - Mount St. Mary's men’s basket- as a basketball-only entity with the following charter time Commissioner of the conference. ball coach Jim Phelan nominated for the Basketball Hall schools: , Fairleigh Dickinson of Fame. University, Long Island University, Loyola (MD) Col- Summer, 1987 - Conference gains first permanent lege, Marist College, Robert Morris College, St. Francis headquarters at FDU’s Rutherford campus. March, 1991 - Saint Francis (PA) men's basketball player Mike Iuzzolino named GTE Academic All-Ameri- (NY) College, Saint Francis (PA) College, , September, 1987 - Men's indoor track, women's can of the Year. Towson State University and Wagner College. Frank tennis and volleyball are added as championship Szymanski named the league’s first Executive Director. sports. Summer, 1991 - Monmouth men's basketball player Alex Blackwell becomes the first NEC player to ever March 2, 1982 - Robert Morris wins the inaugural March 10, 1988 - Conference men's basketball appear on a men's basketball national team, ECAC-Metro Basketball Tournament and receives the final shown live by ESPN for the first time. winning a gold medal at the World University Games. league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, where June 28, 1988 - Rik Smits of Marist is the second the Colonials fall to Indiana. overall pick of the 1988 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. Summer, 1992 - Fairleigh Dickinson sprinter Shar- lene Milwood and Mount St. Mary's decathlete Rob June 29, 1982 - Long Island’s Riley Clarida be- Summer, 1988 - League office relocates to Wood- Pendergist compete in the United States Olympic Team comes the first NEC player drafted by an NBA team bridge, NJ. Trials. when he is picked by the Utah Jazz in the ninth round.

1981 1995

March 15, 1983 - Robert Morris wins opening August 1, 1988 - ECAC-Metro renamed Northeast July 1, 1992 -Rider College begins membership in round NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game with Conference on August 1, 1988, after gaining autonomy the NEC. a 64-54 win over Georgia Southern. The Colonials, from the ECAC. League introduces new logo. who lost to Purdue in the next round, 55-53, were the March 6, 1993 - In perhaps the most remembered NEC’s first team to win an NCAA game. September, 1988 - Mount St. Mary's runner Peter game in league annals, Rider beats Wagner in men's Rono wins 1988 Olympic 1,500-meter gold medal. basketball tournament final on ESPN behind Darrick July 1, 1985 - Monmouth College (later to be re- Suber's last-second shot. named Monmouth University) joins the conference. July 1, 1989 - Mount St. Mary's College (later to be September, 1985 - Men's soccer, golf and tennis March 16, 1994 -Mount St. Mary's women's bas- renamed Mount St. Mary’s University) joins the confer- ketball becomes first NEC women's team to participate are added as championship sports with soccer receiv- ence. ing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. in NCAA Tournament. September, 1990 - Men's and women's outdoor October 25, 1985 - Long Island’s Carey Scurry is track and women's indoor track added as champion- Summer, 1995 - Mount St. Mary's women's basket- the first conference player to play in an NBA game when ship sports. ball player Susie Rowlyk wins NCAA Post-Graduate he suits up for the Utah Jazz after being drafted in the Scholarship. second round. November, 1990 - Rik Smits, formerly of Marist , March, 1986 - Men's basketball player Terrance named NEC Men's Basketball Player of the Decade. The September, 1995 - Women’s soccer added as cham- Bailey of Wagner leads the nation in scoring with 854 1986-87 named NEC Team of the pionship sport. points and a 29.4 ppg average. Decade. September, 1986 - Baseball, women's basketball, men's and women's cross country and softball are added as championship sports. Northeast Conference Historical Timeline

October 31, 1995 - Football, to begin in 1996 as March, 1998 - Charles Jones of Long Island becomes July 1, 1999 - Sacred Heart begins first year as full NEC's 17th sport, is introduced at Giants Stadium press just the seventh men’s basketball player in NCAA history member in the NEC. conference. to lead the nation in scoring for two straight years. October 20, 1999 - A new football financial aid March, 1996 - Monmouth goes to NCAA Tourna- March, 1998 - NEC sends two teams to the postsea- package is adopted, to take effect beginning in the 2000 ment, while Marist and Mount St. Mary's receive NIT son in men’s basketball with FDU competing in the NCAA season. bids, giving the NEC three teams in men's basketball tournament and LIU playing in the NIT. Competing postseason play for the first time. against UConn in the first round of the NCAA Tourna- October 31, 1999 - LIU's women's soccer team, in June, 1996 - Monmouth wins men's ment, FDU's Elijah Allen scores 43 points, the best single just the program's third year of existence, defeats South- Commissioner's Cup and Mount St. Mary's wins game performance in the 1998 tourney. west Texas, 1-0, in a play-in game to advance to NCAA women's Commissioner's Cup, the first time those Tournament. July 1, 1998 - UMBC and Quinnipiac begin first awards are formally presented. year as full members in the NEC. November 20, 1999 - Robert Morris claims its September, 1996 - Former FDU star Wagner fourth straight championship in football and finishes September, 1998 - Field hockey, women's golf , Marseille represents Haiti in the 1996 Summer Olym- the season as the nation's top ranked I-AA non-schol- and women's swimming are added to bring NEC sports pics in the 110-meter hurdles. FDU's Lance Gittens arship program. and Mount St. Mary's Cliff Wong run for Guyana in the sponsorship to 21. 400-hurdles at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

1995 2000

November 23, 1996 - NEC football completes first September, 1998 - Albany and Stony Brook join March, 2000 - Saint Francis (PA) standout women's season of play as Robert Morris wins inaugural title, NEC as associate members in football. basketball player Jess Zinobile becomes the NEC's all- then goes on to capture the ECAC-Division I-AA non- time scoring and rebounding leader. She is also the scholarship bowl game. Winter, 1998 - MSG Network and its affiliates tele- first-ever NEC player to be drafted by the WNBA. March, 1997 - Long Island men’s basketball player vise 13 NEC basketball games, the largest television package in the history of the league. March, 2000 - The NEC plays it's men's and women's Charles Jones leads the nation in scoring with 30.1 ppg. basketball tournament at the Sovereign Bank Arena in April 7, 1997 - NEC presidents hire John Iama- February 28, 1999 - Neutrogena serves as first Trenton, NJ, marking the first time the tournament takes rino, formerly Associate Commissioner of the Sun Belt title sponsor of NEC Basketball Tournament, which place at a neutral site. Conference, as the league's new Commissioner. takes place entirely at Wagner’s , which opened shortly before the tourney commenced. March 6, 2000 - Saint Francis (PA)'s women's bas- Summer, 1997 - NEC office moves to Piscataway, NJ. ketball team claims its record-setting fifth consecutive March 1, 1999 - Mount St. Mary's claims the men's NEC Tournament title and enters NCAA Tournament Summer, 1997 - NEC introduces new logo, the sec- basketball championship as head coach Jim Phelan for fifth year in a row with its highest seed at #14. ond change in brand identity in league history. records his 800th career win before a national televi- sion audience in the title game. July 1, 1997 - Central Connecticut State begins first November 14, 2000 - NEC celebrates 20th Anni- year as full member of the NEC. May 21, 1999 - Long Island's softball team becomes versary with selection of 20th Anniversary All-Time Bas- the league's first-ever women's team in any sport to win ketball Teams, and later in the year the 20th Anniver- September, 1997 - NEC launches official league an NCAA tournament contest when they defeated Man- sary All-Sport Teams. website at www.northeastconference.org. hattan, 4-3. September, 1997 - NEC adds women’s lacrosse as championship sport. Northeast Conference Historical Timeline

November 18, 2000 - Robert Morris wins its fifth March 6, 2002 - CCSU men's basketball wins an March, 2003 - NEC Men's Basketball Coach of the consecutive NEC football championship and ends the NEC record 19 straight games and also established league Year award renamed Jim Phelan Coach of the Year season as the nation's top ranked I-AA Mid-Major pro- marks for overall (27) and conference (19) wins. CCSU award, upon Phelan's retirement after 49 years at Mount gram. wins second league crown in three years, while Wag- St. Mary's. In honor of Phelan's historic career, March ner qualifies for NIT. 1, 2003 is declared as National Bow-Tie Day, with NCAA November 19, 2000 - FDU's Stephen Ondieki earns coaches across the country donning bow-ties to rec- March 9, 2002 - UMBC’s Cleopatra Borel becomes ognize Phelan. All-American honors, finishing second at the NCAA the first NEC athlete to win a national title when she claims Cross Country Championships. In the spring, Ondieki the shot put crown at the NCAA Women’s Indoor Track March 12, 2003 - Wagner wins its first-ever NEC would go on to claim All-American status after finishing & Field Championships. Men's Basketball Championship, defeating St. Francis sixth in the 5K at the NCAA Men's Indoor Track & Field (NY) in a game which marked the first time in NCAA Championships. March 21, 2002 - UMBC’s Lindsey Prather and CCSU's history that two City schools met with an Tammie Repass become the first NEC athletes to compete at NCAA automatic tournament berth at stake. June, 2001 - Monmouth outfielder Jason Law is the NCAA Women’s Swimming & Championships. selected first team ABCA/Rawlings All-American and May 4, 2003 - Saint Francis (PA) claims the unof- April 20, 2002 - Sacred Heart’s DeVeren Johnson Louisville Slugger All-American. ficial ‘Triple Crown’ of men’s track for a third consecu- becomes the first NEC football player picked in the NFL tive year by taking home championships in cross coun- draft when Dallas selects him in the sixth round. try, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field.

2000 2003

June 26, 2002 - CCSU's Corsley Edwards is cho- September 20, 2003 - NEC televises first football October, 2001 - Conference office moves to Somer- sen by the Sacramento Kings with the 58th and final game in league history as Stony Brook hosts Wagner. set, NJ. pick of the 2002 NBA Draft, marking the first time since 1991 that an NEC player is drafted. November, 2003 - NEC sets new football atten- November, 2001 - Fairleigh Dickinson captures dance record. second straight NEC men’s soccer title then proceeds November 17, 2002 - Fairleigh Dickinson cap- to beat Boston College, Princeton and Seton Hall in the tures its third straight men's soccer title and reaches NCAA Tournament to advance to the Elite Eight, before the second round of the NCAA Tournament before November 14, 2003 - CCSU defeats Boston Col- falling to eventual national champion , losing to fourth seeded St. John's, 2-1, in double over- lege, 1-0, to become the first women’s soccer team in 3-2, in triple . FDU concludes the season time. league history to win an NCAA Tournament match. The ranked #11 in the country by the NSCAA. Blue Devils would go on to lose to eventual national November 23, 2002 - Albany defeats MAAC Cham- champion UConn, 3-2, in double overtime. December 1, 2001 - Sacred Heart wins first-ever pion Duquesne, 24-0, to win the ECAC Football Classic NEC football championship and caps off an undefeated and conclude the season as the nation's third ranked November 16, 2003 - Fairleigh Dickinson cap- season (11-0) with a 31-15 victory over Duquesne in I-AA Mid-Major team. tures fourth straight NEC men’s soccer crown and fin- the ECAC Football Classic. The Pioneers end the year ishes ranked in the News Top-30 for ranked #1 in the Sports Network’s inaugural I-AA Mid- Winter, 2002 - The NEC televises 30 basketball the third straight year. Major poll. games - a record for the conference - on its flagship station MSG Network, as well as regional out- January 10, 2002 - FDU assistant soccer coach lets such as Fox Sports-New York, Fox Sports-Pitts- Ethan Zohn captures the $1,000,000 grand prize on burgh, Fox Sports-New England and Comcast Sports- “Survivor Africa.” Net. Northeast Conference Historical Timeline

February 4, 2004 - NEC relaunches official web- August 23, 2005 - NEC begins a year-long Silver June 11, 2006 - LIU’s Bryan Steele finishes second site with new streamlined design and upgraded fea- Anniversary celebration with the unveiling of a 25th in the 400 meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & tures. Anniversary logo. Field Championships. The second place finish ties for the highest ever by an NEC men’s competitor. July 1, 2004 - The NEC launches first-ever online November 21, 2005 - Quinnipiac’s Katie Gwyther webstore. is the first female in league history to capture cross August 1, 2006 - Brenda Weare, formerly of Con- country All-America honors after placing 12th at the ference USA, is named the third full-time Commissioner of the Northeast Conference. September 1, 2004 - The NEC launches Sports- NCAA Championship meet. manship Counts!, a program designed to reinforce and November, 2006 - The inaugural NEC Count- promote the ideals and fundamentals of good sports- December 2, 2005 - Long Island becomes the first down to Tipoff Basketball Preview Show airs region- manship. NEC volleyball team to win an NCAA Tournament match, defeating Cornell, 3-0. ally throughout the Northeast and nationally on FCS. November 22, 2004 - Monmouth claims the Sports Network Cup, emblematic of the top mid-major foot- January 2, 2006 - NEC Commissioner John Iama- December 2, 2006 - Monmouth hosts PFL cham- ball program in the nation, as five conference programs rino resigns after nine years to become Commissioner pion San Diego in the first Gridiron Classic. The game finished in the final top-10 poll. of the . airs nationally on CSTV (now CBS College Sports).

2004 2007

January 5, 2006 - NEC celebrates 25th Anniver- March, 2005 - The NEC Men's and Women's Bas- sary with announcement of 25th Anniversary All-Time January 22, 2007 - Duquesne is announced as an ketball Tournament returns "Back to Campus" for the Basketball Teams. associate member in football beginning with the 2008 first time since the 1996-97 season with all games played season. at the home of the higher seed. March, 2006 - CCSU's Jamie Crowley qualifies for the NCAA Swimming Championships in three different March 10, 2007 - Gardner Webb’s Terra Wilson events and goes on to compete in the US National Cham- March 12, 2005 - Saint Francis (PA) earns its fourth becomes the NEC’s first-ever swimming All-American pionships, along with teammate Lindsey Snyder. consecutive women's basketball championship and after she places sixth in the nation in the 200 freestyle. ninth crown in the last ten years. March 14, 2006 - Monmouth becomes the first April 29, 2007 - CCSU’s Justise Hairston (New NEC men’s basketball team in 23 years to win an NCAA England) and Albany’s Rashad Barksdale (Philadel- March 17, 2005 - FDU men’s basketball plays top- Tournament game with a 71-49 win over Hampton. phia) become the third and fourth NEC players cho- seed and eventual national runner-up Illinois to a first- The Hawks would go on to battle top-seeded Villanova sen in the NFL Draft. half standstill, before falling to the Illini in the opening until the final minutes before losing, 58-45. round of the NCAA Tournament. May 19, 2007 - Long Island wins its second NCAA Spring, 2006 - Future household names Miles Aus- Softball Tournament game with a 5-1 win over Colgate. June, 2005 - St. Francis (PA) ranks among the top tin and Andrew Bailey join their respective professional programs nationally with 19 Academic All-Americans teams. Austin, a wide receiver from Monmouth, joins May 19, 2007 - In one of the greatest champion- over a seven-year span. the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. Bailey, ship finals in the history of the NEC, Quinnipiac outlasts a hurler from Wagner, is drafted by the Oakland A’s in Long Island to win its fourth straight NEC women’s ten- the sixth round of the MLB Draft. nis championship. The match lasts four hours and 45 minutes. Northeast Conference Historical Timeline

October 18, 2007 - Bryant University accepts an invi- November 23, 2008 - Legendary Mount St. Mary’s May 27, 2009 - Sacred Heart establishes a new record tation to become the NEC’s 12th core member in 2012-13 basketball coach Jim Phelan is inducted into the Na- for points in winning the newly renamed Brenda Weare upon completion of a five-year NCAA reclassification period. tional Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Commissioner’s Cup for the second year in a row. November 28, 2007 - CCSU becomes the second team December 6, 2008 - Albany wins the Gridiron in league history to reach the round of 16 in the NCAA Men’s Classic with a 28-0 victory over Jacksonville. The game June 13, 2009 - NEC Commissioner Brenda Weare Soccer Tournament after defeating Harvard and Tulsa. airs live on YES Network. passes away after a courageous battle with cancer. January 5, 2008 - The NEC’s first-ever nationally tele- March, 2009 - NEC women’s basketball attendance vised regular season game takes place as rises over 20 percent after the Conference receives November 4, 2009 -The NEC launches a satellite Quinnipiac battles Robert Morris on ESPNU. one of 17 grants nationwide as part of the newly de- website, NortheastConference.TV, the league’s new web- signed NCAA Women’s Basketball Grant Program. based media platform. January 12, 2008 - The NEC announces it will sponsor women’s bowling beginning in the 2008-09 season. March 12, 2009 - Robert Morris captures its record sixth NEC men’s basketball title on a last second shot by Dal- November 9, 2009 - Noreen Morris, formerly of March 2, 2008 - The New York Times runs a 12-page las Green. The two-point win over Mount St. Mary’s riveted Northwestern University, is named the fourth full-time supplement in its Sunday PLAY Magazine promoting the the ESPN nationwide audience, which more than triples over Commissioner of the NEC. NEC Basketball Championship. the course of the contest.

2007 2010

March 22, 2009 - Fairleigh Dickinson captures the November 16, 2009 - Former Wagner pitcher March 2, 2008 - Mount St. Mary’s knocks off Cop- inaugural NEC women’s bowling championship. Andrew Bailey is named American League Rookie of pin State to become the third NEC school to win a game the Year for the Oakland A’s. He previously represented in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. April 11, 2009 - FDU women’s bowling falls one the team in the 2009 MLB All-Star game. win short of reaching the NCAA title match, losing 4-3 April, 2008 - The NEC remains in Somerset, NJ, but to Central Missouri in the semis. The Knights end the November 19, 2009 - Playing at home, fifth-ranked moves its central office to a larger and more modern year ranked third in the nation, one of four NEC schools Monmouth advances to the second round of the NCAA workspace. to be nationally ranked over the course of the season. Men’s Soccer Tournament by beating UConn in penalty kicks. The Hawks end the year ranked 13th nationally.

April 25, 2008 - The NEC is awarded an automatic May 16, 2009 - Monmouth tight end John Nalbone December 15, 2009 - Monmouth’s Ryan Kinne is bid into the NCAA FCS playoffs beginning in 2010 when is selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of named a first team All-American in men’s soccer. He is the bracket is expanded for the first time in 21 years. the NFL Draft. the first NEC player to earn first team honors in 25 years.

Spring, 2009 - Along with its popular YouTube December 30, 2009 - Former Monmouth star April 27, 2008 - One of the wildest NEC champion- page, the NEC continues to embrace new media initia- Miles Austin is named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad after ship finishes in history occurs when Sacred Heart’s tives by launching Twitter and Facebook pages. The leading the conference in receiving yardage for the Carissa Hauser scores with three seconds left as the Conference also wraps up an extensive season-long Cowboys. Pioneers rally past Quinnipiac for a 15-14 victory and webcasting package with Pack Network. the program’s first women’s lacrosse title. March 10, 2010 - Robert Morris becomes the first NEC men’s basketball team to repeat as champion since May 16, 2009 - A week after winning its first NEC the mid-90s with a 52-50 win over Quinnipiac in front May 15, 2008 - The NEC announces men’s lacrosse softball championship, Sacred Heart defeats Cornell in of an NEC Tournament record crowd at the TD Bank as a conference sport beginning with the 2011 season. the NCAA Tournament. Sports Center. Northeast Conference Historical Timeline

March 14, 2010 - Saint Francis (PA) defeats the #1, #2 and #4 September 13, 2010 - The FDU national champi- seeds to win its league record tenth NEC women’s basketball tourna- onship women’s bowling team is honored by Presi- ment crown. dent Barack Obama at the White House.

March 18, 2010 - Robert Morris becomes a house- September 14, 2010 - The Monmouth men’s soc- hold name with its near upset of #2 seed Villanova in first cer team reaches #5 in the national rankings. round action at the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Behind a scintillating performance from freshman Karon Abraham, the Colonials lead for the majority of the contest September 16, 2010 - The Northeast Conference begins a year- before succumbing in overtime, 73-70. long celebration of its 30th Anniversary with the unveiling of its 30th Anniversary logo. April 10, 2010 - Fairleigh Dickinson wins the NCAA Women’s Bowling championship with a thrilling 4-3 win over Nebraska in the title match. The championship was historical in nature as it marked the first such title for an NEC institution in a league-sponsored sport. By year’s end, six league teams earned national rankings in the sport.

2010 2011

April, 2010 - FDU bowler Erica Perez is named an All-American for the fourth time in her career and is featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd.”

May 23, 2010 - Long Island women’s softball com- pletes an unprecedented season on the diamond by becoming the first team in NEC history to reach an NCAA Regional final in the sport. The Blackbirds defeated UMass and Boston University to reach the final.

May 26, 2010 - Long Island’s Selma Babic becomes the first player in NEC women’s tennis annals to com- pete in the NCAA Singles Tournament.

June 29, 2010 - The 2009-10 year ends with a record total of 2,258 student-athletes named to the NEC Academic Honor Roll. That figure represents more than half of the league’s competitors.