Northeast-10 Conference Fall Sports Update
IHSA Announcement to Cancel 2021 Postseason
The Northeast-10 Conference Council of Presidents has announced today that the NE10 has canceled its plan for a repositioned championship season for men's and women's soccer and cross country, field hockey, football and volleyball during the spring 2021 semester, given the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While this difficult decision by the NE10 presidents suspends any formal conference schedule and championships, Stonehill College still plans to pursue competition opportunities for the above mentioned sports, as well as equestrian, during the spring semester once it is deemed safe to do so in accordance with established safety procedures and applicable College, local and federal government and NCAA regulations. The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) announced earlier this month that it has canceled its 2021 postseason. Men's and women's cross country will focus on competing during their traditional outdoor track & field season this spring.
"While this was a very difficult decision for the NE10 to make, it was intentionally designed to allow all member institutions the ability to compete independently if they elect to do so this spring," states Dean O'Keefe, '94 Director of Athletics at the College. "Stonehill remains committed to providing meaningful competition for our fall sport student-athletes if and when we can safely do so, and we will pursue competition opportunities for fall sports in anticipation of a time this semester when health and safety guidance permit us the ability to play. As conditions allow, our student-athletes will resume participation in team activities and prepare for the opportunity to resume competition."
Stonehill and the NE10 remain unanimously committed to supporting a return to play for NE10 competition in its nine spring sports, including women's tennis and golf, whose 2020 NCAA championship seasons were cancelled at the outset of the pandemic. Practice and other sport specific training opportunities for Stonehill student-athletes are planned to resume at the start of the spring semester, in accordance with established safety procedures and applicable College, local and federal government and NCAA regulations.
The health and safety of our campus community remains our highest priority and the College remains committed to supporting the critical efforts of our community to curb the spread of COVID-19.
