RFC Summer Semester--Northeast 10 Conference Preview (NCAA Division II)

Northeast 10 Conference (NCAA Division II)

Website

2011 Final Standings

Looking back: In just their third season since re-starting football, the University of New Haven finished unbeaten in Northeast 10 conference play (8-0) en route to winning the league title, as well as advancing to the quarterfinals of last year's NCAA Division II playoffs.  The Chargers lost to Winston Salem State, 27-7, to finish the 2011 campaign at 11-2 overall.

Looking ahead:  In a first for the conference, the NE-10 will hold its first-ever "Championship Weekend", where the top two teams in the final regular season standings will play in a championship game on November 10.  The other teams will play in consolation games on that same date.

 2012 Predicted Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)

1. New Haven (11-2):  If they can stay healthy and focused, there's no reason why the Chargers can't make another deep postseason run in 2012.  Hopefully, the signing of 19 players during the offseason will help them do just that.

2. Southern Connecticut State (7-3):  The Owls will look to de-throne the Chargers after finishing second in the NE-10 at 6-2.  They must make the trip to UNH on October 27, for the potential opportunity to do so, though.  


3. Merrimack (6-4):  The Warriors were one of three teams to finish in a three-way for third place last season.  Their lone non-conference game of the 2012 season will be played against NCAA Division III Rowan on September 8.  That's one week after their season opener at New Haven.


4. American International (6-4):  The Yellow Jackets will quickly find out how good they are in their season opener on September 8, when they travel to West Virginia to face a Shepherd squad that finished 9-2 last season.


5. Bentley (6-4):  Head Coach Thom Boerman hopes the signing of mostly Massachusetts signing class will help the Falcons challenge for a conference title in 2012.


6. Stonehill (4-7):  If the Skyhawks are to improve on last year's 3-5 conference mark of 2011, they must win learn how to win the close games.  They were 1-3 in games decided by 10 points or less last season.


7. Assumption (4-6):  The Greyhounds also struggled in close games last season, going 2-2 in contests decided by 10 points or fewer.


8. Pace (1-9):  The Setters look to move up after going winless in conference play (0-8) last season.  Their only win of 2011 came on September 10, as they outlasted Stonehill, 23-20.


9. Saint Anselm (1-9):  The Hawks lone win of 2011 also came in NE-10 action: a 47-21 rout of Pace on September 22.