Bridgewater, NJ -- As the fall season unfolded, several NEC teams earned praise for the character and respect they displayed on the field. Today, the conference unveiled its 2025 Fall Team Sportsmanship Award honorees.

Saint Francis U led the way with a league-high three awards, earning sportsmanship honors in men’s cross country, women’s cross country and women’s soccer.

New Haven was recognized in field hockey, Mercyhurst claimed the award in football, Stonehill earned the honor in men’s soccer and Le Moyne was celebrated in women’s volleyball.

SFU has claimed four straight Team Sportsmanship Awards in women’s soccer and is also a repeat honoree in women’s cross country.

2025 NEC Team Sportsmanship Award Winners   Fall Men’s Cross Country - Saint Francis U Women’s Cross Country - Saint Francis U Field Hockey - New Haven Football - Mercyhurst Men’s Soccer - Stonehill Women’s Soccer - Saint Francis U Women’s Volleyball - Le Moyne

Instituted by league Presidents in 2008, the awards are designed to acknowledge the team in each conference sport that, in the opinion of its peers, most closely demonstrates good sportsmanship based on the NEC Principles of Sportsmanship and Standards of Conduct. Voting is conducted at the conclusion of each season by each team and head coach, who rank teams within the conference based on a set of criteria.

Since the NEC Team Sportsmanship program was instituted in 2008-09, Saint Francis U has won a conference-best 56 awards, followed by CCSU (35), Wagner (35) and LIU (31).

“Often, it’s the moments that don’t make the box score that say the most about our student-athletes,” said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. “These teams showed, day after day, that true success comes from competing with respect, integrity and a genuine commitment to fair play. We’re proud to celebrate the example they set for our conference.”
 
About The Northeast Conference
Now in its 45th season, the NEC is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of ten institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#9). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#88). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, New Haven, Saint Francis U, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.necsports.com) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.