The New Haven Chargers have completed their first fall season competing in the Division I NEC.
Though teams faced intense competition and increased pressure to perform at a higher level, the Chargers are ineligible to compete in NCAA or conference championships until the 2028-29 season.
The university’s field hockey team finished 0-15, took a total of 57 shots against their opponents and tallied 165 defensive saves. Forwards Jalia Cooper and Erin Smith each scored one goal this season, while forward Emma Beaujouan scored three.
The women’s soccer team did not find a spot in the win column and concluded the season with a record of 0-15-1. The Chargers finished the season with 152 saves, 125 shots and nine goals. Midfielder Emma Mitchell led New Haven with four goals while midfielders Esthefany Aguilar and Antonia Henao each added one. Forwards Kelsey Landers, Grace Simpson and Caleigh Wynter also found the back of the net once apiece.
The men’s soccer team finished with a .500 winning percentage and overall record of 5-5-6 and 3-2-3 in NEC play. The Chargers scored 16 goals and had 67 saves. Goalkeeper Alessandro Bizzini received three NEC honors during the season, including two prime performers and a player of the week recognition. Forwards Lukian Lawro and Ryan Kipness both earned player of the week honors. After a goal against Dartmouth College, defender Guilherme Meria was also named rookie of the week in the NEC.
The women’s volleyball team finished the season 5-22 overall and 4-12 in conference play. The Chargers totaled 1,294 digs, 1,066 kills, 973 assists and 123 aces. Opposite side Lauren MacKellar reached 500 kills this season and earned two recognitions as an NEC prime performer. Middle blocker Naliah Grannell earned NEC defensive player of the week alongside Josie Foster who also was recognized as a prime performer. In the final week of the season, right side Kassadi Avent earned NEC rookie of the week, and setter Juli De Acharan was named an NEC prime performer.
After coming off an NE10 Championship last fall, the women’s tennis team finished the season undefeated, 4-0. Combined with their Spring 2025 schedule, the team has an undefeated overall record of 12-0. Seven players completed their singles matches undefeated while Laura Ortner and Leni Bischof led the doubles teams with a 9-0 record.
The men’s golf team finished in first place at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational and tied for second place at the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Championships. The women’s golf team competed in five tournaments, and finished tenth in the Bucknall Invitational and seventh in the Sacred Heart Fall Classic.
The men’s and women’s cross-country teams competed in three invitationals before the New England Championships. The men’s team finished 17 out of 24 and the women’s team 22 out of 25. Mohammed Abunar earned an NEC prime performer honor and earned a first team All-Conference.
The women’s rugby team finished the season 1-5, with their only win against Davenport University. In October, center Sereana Vulaono was selected for Team USA to compete in the Global Rugby Series in Australia.
Senior LaLa Guimaraes said that though the rugby team struggled on the field, they were able to remain close because of the potential they knew they had.
“A bad record doesn’t erase the work, and it doesn’t change how much we care about each other,” said Guimaraes. “We’ve tried to focus on growth more than the scoreboard and showed up for each game ready to fix something from the week before.”
The football team completed the season, 5-5. In his first season with the Chargers, quarterback AJ Duffy received four accolades from the NEC and earned the New England Football Writers Gold Helmet Award in week three. Five players earned preseason all-conference honors while four players received prime performance honors from the NEC throughout the season.
Following a transitional fall season at the university, winter sports have begun, and the Chargers continue to make history in their Division I debuts.
