Merrimack Warriors

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Athletic teams representing Merrimack College

Merrimack Warriors

University| Merrimack College
Conference| MAAC
Independent (football)
Hockey East (men's and women's ice hockey)
Northeast Conference (field hockey)
NCAA| NCAA Division I
Athletic director| Joe Foley
Location| North Andover, Massachusetts
Varsity teams| 22
Football stadium| Duane Stadium
Basketball arena| Hammel Court/Lawler Arena
Ice hockey arena| Lawler Arena
Baseball stadium| Warrior Baseball Diamond
Softball stadium| Martone-Mejail Field
Soccer stadium| Martone-Mejail Field
Lacrosse stadium| Duane Stadium
Nickname| Warriors
Fight song| Down in the Valley of Victory
Colors| Blue and gold[1]

Website| merrimackathletics.com
Team NCAA championships
4[2]

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 football competes as an FCS Independent, while the remaining teams are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.[3]

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. 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]

In 2024, the school announced it would join the MAAC, and the football team would become an FCS independent.

## History

[edit]

Highlights of Merrimack athletic history include four 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 and 2019 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] In 2019 the college announced they would move up to Division I and join the NEC. The men's basketball team won the NEC regular season in just their first year. Many of the other programs also had success in their first couple of seasons, showing the school could compete at the DI level. In 2024, the women's bowling team became the first non-hockey team to make the Division I tournament. Later that year it was announced the school would leave the NEC to join the MAAC.

## 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 & field1 | Soccer
Volleyball | Softball
| Swimming & diving
| Tennis
| Track & field1
| Volleyball
1 – includes both indoor and outdoor

Merrimack College participates in 25 varsity sports at the Division I level. The men's hockey team had been competing at the DI level since the mid-80s. In 2019, it was announced that the school would move all their programs to the Division I level and join the Northeast Conference. In 2023, the school added two new programs: men's volleyball and women's bowling. In 2024, the school announced they would join the MAAC. However, the field hockey program would stay in the NEC and the football team would become independent, due to the MAAC not sponsoring football.

### Football

[edit]

Main article: Merrimack Warriors football

Merrimack (in white) v Air Force in 2024

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]

* 1985–1995: Independent
* 1996: Eastern Collegiate Football Conference
* 1997–2000: Eastern Football Conference
* 2001–2018: Northeast-10 Conference
* 2019–present: Northeast Conference

### Basketball

[edit]

Main article: Merrimack Warriors men's basketball

The Merrimack college men’s basketball team has had a fair amount of success at the Division II level, making the NCAA tournament 11 times. They made an even bigger splash in 2019-2020, in their first Division I season. They went 14-4 in conference and 20-11 overall, to win the NEC regular season. This was the first time that a transitioning team had won a regular season title in their first year. The Warriors also won the NEC tournament in 2023, but could not go to the NCAA tournament because of the NCAA transition period.

### Hockey

[edit]

Main article: Merrimack Warriors men's ice hockey

The Merrimack college men's ice hockey program was one of the first sports to be recognized as a varsity program, in 1954. They were very successful at the D2 level, winning numerous ECAC 2 championships in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1978, they became the first team in school history to win a national championship, beating Lake Forest 12-2. In 1985, they became the first Merrimack program to move to DI. From 1987 to 1989, they won three straight ECAC East titles. They got an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament in 1988 after a 32-win campaign. They were the first team in school history to make a D1 NCAA tournament. During the 1989-90 season, they officially joined Hockey East, where they remain.

### Soccer

[edit]

Main article: Merrimack Warriors men's soccer

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 team won 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. In their first year at the DI level, the team went 11-3-2 overall, and had a perfect 9-0 in NEC play.

### Lacrosse

[edit]

Main article: Merrimack Warriors lacrosse

The Merrimack men's lacrosse team saw much success in the late 2010s, making five straight D2 tournament appearances from 2015 to 2019. They made the final four in 2015 and 2016, and were national runners up in 2017. In 2018, they beat Saint Leo 23-6 to win their first national championship. They then went back-to-back, beating Limestone 16-8 in 2019, closing out their time at the D2 level on top.

### Softball

[edit]

Main article: Merrimack Warriors softball

Merrimack college softball has had incredible success at the Division II level, especially in the 1990s, when they won six conference tournament titles and seven regular season titles. They went 45-4 and won the national championship. They had 15 total appearances in the NCAA tournament at the D2 level, including five regional championships.

## 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

### Individual national championships

[edit]

Carly Muscaro (women's track & field)

* 2015-16 (400m indoors)
* 2016 (400m outdoors)
* 2016-17 (200m, 400m indoors)
* 2017 (200m, 400m outdoors)

### National championship runner up

[edit]

* Men's ice hockey: 1984
* Men's lacrosse: 2017

### Regional championships

[edit]

* Women's basketball: 2004, 2005
* Softball: 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000
* Women's soccer: 1996

### Appearances

[edit]

* Baseball (4): 1990, 1995, 1996, 2018
* Men's basketball (11): 1977, 1978, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2019
* Sweet 16 appearances (2): 1976, 1977
* Women's basketball (3): 2003, 2004, 2005
* Sweet 16 appearances (2): 2004, 2005
* Elite 8 appearances (2): 2004, 2005
* Final four appearances (2): 2004, 2005
* Football (1): 2006
* Men's ice hockey (7):
* Division II: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984
* Division II runner up: 1984
* Division II frozen four: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984
* Division I: 1988, 2011, 2023
* Men's lacrosse (7): 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
* Runner up: 2017
* Final four 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
* Women's soccer (11): 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
* Softball (15): 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2011, 2017, 2018
* World Series appearances: 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000
* Men's tennis (9): 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
* Women's tennis (2): 2009, 2014
* Field hockey (5): 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018
* Women's volleyball (2): 2007, 2008
* Men's soccer (5): 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
* Women's cross country (1): 2018
* Women's bowling (1): 2024

## Conference championships

[edit]

### Northeast

[edit]

* Men's basketball regular season (3): 2020,2023,2024
* Men's basketball tournament champions (1): 2023
* Men's soccer regular season (1): 2019
* Women's soccer regular season (1): 2023
* Women's bowling tournament (1): 2024

Other

* NEC Men's Commissioners Cup: 2023, 2024

### Northeast-10

[edit]

* Baseball tournament (4): 1990, 1995, 1996, 2018
* Baseball regular season (5): 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999
* Football (2): 2006, 2009
* Men's basketball tournament (3): 1992, 2000, 2019
* Men's basketball regular season (1): 2000
* Women's basketball tournament (1): 2004
* Women's basketball regular season (2): 2004, 2005
* Women's cross country (3): 1997, 1998, 1999[7]
* Men's lacrosse tournament (3): 2000, 2010, 2018
* Men's lacrosse regular season (2): 2013, 2019
* Men's soccer tournament (4): 1995, 1996, 1997, 2017
* Men's soccer regular season (4): 1994, 1996, 1997, 2012
* Women's soccer tournament (9): 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999
* Women's soccer regular season (8): 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999
* Softball tournament (8): 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002
* Softball regular season (12): 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2017
* Men's tennis tournament (3): 2012, 2013, 2015
* Men's tennis regular season (5): 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
* Women's tennis regular season (1): 2014
* Field hockey regular season (2): 2011, 2012
* Women's volleyball regular season (1): 1999
* Women's golf (4): 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019

Other

* NE10 Presidents Cup: 2000, 2018

### ECAC

[edit]

* Mens ice hockey tournament: ECAC 2 (4): 1967, 1968, 1977, 1980, ECAC east (3): 1987, 1988, 1989
* Mens ice hockey regular season: ECAC 2 (5): 1968, 1969, 1975, 1976, 1977, ECAC east (3): 1987, 1988, 1989
* Men's soccer (1): 1997
* Women's soccer (2): 1988, 2000
* Men's lacrosse (2): 1999, 2000
* Men's basketball (3): 1989, 1998, 1999
* Baseball (3): 1988, 1989, 1995

## Facilities

[edit]

Venue  | Sport  | Capacity

|
|

Lawler Arena/Rink | Hockey/basketball  | 2,549/3,000
Martone Mejail Field  | Soccer/softball  | N/A
Hammel Court | Basketball/volleyball  | 1,200
Duane Stadium | Football  | 4,000
Lacrosse
Field hockey
Track & field
Greater Lawrence Tech  | Baseball  | N/A

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Merrimack College Brand Guidelines". Retrieved February 22, 2017.
2. ^ "CHAMPIONSHIPS SUMMARY" (PDF). NCAA.org. NCAA. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
3. ^ "Merrimack College Accepts Invitation to Join the Northeast Conference" (Press release). Northeast Conference. September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
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.
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]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merrimack College athletics.

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Merrimack College

Facilities|

* Moseley Wrought Iron Arch Bridge
* Merrimack Athletics Complex

Organizations|

* Center for Engaged Democracy

Athletics|

* Sports: Merrimack Warriors
* Baseball
* Men's basketball
* Women's basketball
* Women's bowling
* Football
* Men's ice hockey
* Women's ice hockey
* Men's soccer

* Venues: Duane Stadium
* Merrimack Athletics Complex

* v
* t
* e

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Full members|

* Canisius Golden Griffins
* Fairfield Stags
* Iona Gaels
* Manhattan Jaspers
* Marist Red Foxes
* Merrimack Warriors
* Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers
* Niagara Purple Eagles
* Quinnipiac Bobcats
* Rider Broncs
* Sacred Heart Pioneers
* Saint Peter's Peacocks
* Siena Saints

Associate membrs|

* Albany Great Danes1
* Drake Bulldogs2
* Jacksonville Dolphins3
* Robert Morris Colonials2
* Stetson Hatters2
* La Salle Explorers4
* LIU Sharks4
* Villanova Wildcats4
* VMI Keydets4
* Wagner Seahawks4

Championships|

* Baseball
* Men's basketball
* Women's basketball
* Men's ice hockey
* Men's soccer
* Women's soccer

* 1golf (women's)
* 2rowing (women's)
* 3rowing (men's / women's)
* 4water polo (women's)

* v
* t
* e

Hockey East

Men|

* Boston College Eagles (Silvio O. Conte Forum)
* Boston University Terriers (Agganis Arena)
* Maine Black Bears (Harold Alfond Arena)
* Merrimack Warriors (J. Thom Lawler Rink)
* New Hampshire Wildcats (Whittemore Center Arena)
* Northeastern Huskies (Matthews Arena)
* Providence Friars (Schneider Arena)
* UConn Huskies (Toscano Family Ice Forum)
* UMass Minutemen (William D. Mullins Memorial Center)
* UMass Lowell River Hawks (Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell)
* Vermont Catamounts (Gutterson Fieldhouse)

Men's Seasons|

* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–00
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

Women|

* Boston College Eagles (Silvio O. Conte Forum)
* Boston University Terriers (Walter Brown Arena)
* Holy Cross Crusaders (Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex)
* Maine Black Bears (Harold Alfond Arena)
* Merrimack Warriors (J. Thom Lawler Rink)
* New Hampshire Wildcats (Whittemore Center)
* Northeastern Huskies (Matthews Arena)
* Providence Friars (Schneider Arena)
* UConn Huskies (Toscano Family Ice Forum)
* Vermont Catamounts (Gutterson Fieldhouse)

Related articles|

* Lamoriello Trophy
* Hockey East men's ice hockey tournament
* List of champions: Men / Women
* Tournament sites: TD Garden

* v
* t
* e

Rugby Northeast

Men's|

* Bentley
* Middlebury
* Norwich
* Providence
* UMass Lowell

Women's|

| Tier 1|

* Bentley
* Bryant
* Colby
* Franklin Pierce
* Roger Williams
* Saint Michael's
* Stonehill

|

Tier 2|

* Keene State
* Merrimack
* Middlebury
* Providence
* Saint Anselm
* Southern Connecticut
* UMass Lowell

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| NCAA
Division I|

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