Bridgewater, NJ – The Northeast Conference (NEC) has announced its 2024–25 Sportsmanship Award recipients, with Mercyhurst Field Hockey and Mercyhurst Softball earning the award for their respective sports in the 2024-25 spring/fall season.

Mercyhurst Field Hockey won the Fall Team Sportsmanship award for their commitment to sportsmanship last fall, while Mercyhurst Softball claimed the Spring Team Sportsmanship award for their continued display of sportsmanship throughout the spring season. These recognitions mark the first such awards for both teams as they completed their inaugural seasons at the Division I level in the northeast conference.

The NEC Team Sportsmanship Award was established in the 2008–09 academic year to recognize programs that best demonstrate good sportsmanship, fair play, and respect for opponents and officials. The award is determined by a vote of the league's head coaches, who evaluate opposing teams based on their conduct throughout the season. One team is honored in each sport at the conclusion of every season.

"Our sportsmanship awards program serves as a meaningful reminder that how we compete is just as important as the results on the scoreboard," said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. "Each of these teams earned the respect of their peers by consistently demonstrating what it means to compete with character and integrity. We are proud to honor those who embody the spirit of fair play."

About The Northeast Conference
Now in its 44th season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of nine 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 (#8). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#87). 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, Saint Francis U, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league's official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.