This month, we mark yet another year of thrilling sports competition for our Beacons! The University of Massachusetts Boston has churned out many teams with conference championships and student athletes with All-American nods over the last several years. Last year, five Beacons teams won conference championships.  
The baseball team reached the College World Series for the second time in their history, and won their first CWS game. Men’s soccer also made history with their first ever NCAA Tournament victories, reaching the Sweet 16 in the process. History was made in women’s track and field when Wadeline Jonathas won the national championship in the 400 meters, both for the indoor and outdoor seasons. She would also win the 200 meter title at the outdoor meet. Amazingly, she was only a freshman, so it is suggested that we will see more championships, records, and milestones set not only by her, but by other Beacon athletes and their teams as we progress through the year!
Men’s soccer gets the ball rolling this Fall semester, returning 22 players from last year’s Little East Conference championship campaign while finishing in the top 10 nationally in goals and goals per game. They open at spot 15 in the national polls, with six of the returning players having started in 15 or more games. They are the only LEC team ranked in the country, and are expected to win a fourth straight conference championship in Jake Beverlin’s fifth season in charge. Women’s soccer will move on from a three-win season in 2016 with an improving and maturing roster that loses just one graduated player.
Men’s tennis will also begin in this semester with three matches before taking a winter break, resuming in the spring. Their roster will return all but one player from last year’s LEC Championship season, concluding with a loss to Nichols in the NCAA Division III tournament. Women’s tennis will have a roster laden with four seniors as they look to improve from their 8-11 record from 2016-17.
Women’s volleyball will usher in a new era, with head coach Mike Houlihan taking full control for the retired Terry Condon. The roster consists of all but four players from 2016’s 29-5 LEC Championship team, including conference tournament MVP Eileen Shi.
Men’s and women’s cross country round out the fall season slate, with both teams looking to improve their marks among their LEC and New England brethren, the men finishing at 39 out of the 56 from last year’s NCAA Division III New England Regional Championship.
The winter campaigns will start with men’s basketball aiming to further improve on a 14-13 record that saw them win their first LEC Tournament game in a decade. Jason Harris’ roster will feature Ty Lee and Alex Sanchez, last year’s All-LEC Rookie Team nominees. Women’s basketball will have All-LEC Second Team senior Raven Kelsey aiming to improve on their 9-17 record from last year.
Men’s and women’s ice hockey will also look for success in the winter term, the men returning senior captain and last year’s New England Hockey Conference player of the year Colin Larkin and league Rookie of the Year Ryan Cusin. Women’s hockey will look to a second NEHC title in three years, with senior star goalie Rachel Myette leading last year’s 19-win team.
Men’s lacrosse sets the tone for springtime, losing just two seniors from last year’s team which reached the LEC title game. Baseball and softball are expected to continue their winning ways, while Jonathas will continue to captivate the sport of track and field at the Division III level.
With that said, there will be no shortage of success, be it on the playing fields or in the classroom. UMass Boston has made their athletic program one of the best in the LEC and in the New England region. The administrators, coaches, and student-athletes all support each other, and have fostered an environment for a prospective recruit to succeed, and for us fans to cheer for. Let’s make this 2017-18 academic year the best one yet!