BOSTON – For the first time since 2013, all of Suffolk University's fall varsity sports teams – men's golf, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, volleyball and women's tennis – have or will compete for the GNAC conference crown in post-season action.
The tournaments for men's and women's cross country, men's golf and women's tennis have already wrapped up, while the men's and women's soccer and volleyball trophies are still up for grabs.
CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE: #4 MEN'S SOCCER
The men's soccer team put together the most GNAC wins (6) since joining the league in 1999 to claim the fourth seed into the tournament, the Rams' third consecutive appearance and 16th conference post-season stint overall.
The Rams, who hosted their first quarterfinals contest since 2010, blanked No. 5 Albertus Magnus, 2-0, thanks to a career-high, two-goal effort by sophomore Jordan Casey of East Hampton, Connecticut, Saturday, Oct. 27 to advance to the semifinals for the third time in program history.
Suffolk sets its sights on the semis as the Rams trek to Standish, Maine, Tuesday, Nov. 1 to take on regular-season champion and tournament top-seed Saint Joseph's (Maine) at 2:30 p.m.
Ram Nation can tune into the contest live on Stretch Internet or follow live stats here.
MORE READING: Men's Soccer GNAC Semis Showdown at Saint Joseph's on Tap Tuesday
CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE: #7 WOMEN'S SOCCER
Suffolk stunned the tournament field as the seventh-seeded Rams surprised No. 2 Johnson & Wales Sunday, Oct. 30 thanks to a a game-winning free kick from junior Jennifer Martin. The Higganum, Connecticut, local, who picked up GNAC Corvias Player of the Week honors for her effort, snipped a 20-yard free kick into the opposite side of the netting to help Suffolk to a 2-1 victory and seal a spot in the semifinals.
Kirsten Weiker, who also garnered a conference weekly award, was also a crucial ingredient in the upset, as the sophomore from Durham, N.H., made 10 saves and is just one of five goals that JWU faced in 21 contests to hold the Wildcats to a single score this season.
Tha Rams, who are the in midst of their sixth conference tournament appearance, advanced to the semifinals for just the third time in the program's 10-year history thanks to their 11th victory of the season, which ties the 2011 (11-8-1) squad for the second most wins in Suffolk's annals.
Suffolk's conference crown quest continues Wednesday, Nov. 2 at No. 3 Albertus Magnus. The semis showdown is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and will be broadcasted live on Stretch Internet and can be followed via live stats, here.
MORE READING: Women's Soccer GNAC Crown Hunt Continues in Semis at Albertus Magnus
CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE #8 VOLLEYBALL
Suffolk secured its place in the GNAC tournament thanks to a sweep of Saint Joseph (Conn.) in the Rams regular-season finale Saturday, Oct. 29.
The Rams make their 11th trip to the GNAC post-season and first since 2013. Suffolk heads into the tournament as the eighth seed for the first time and looks for its first-ever trip to the semifinals. The Rams will have to get through undefeated and top-seeded Johnson & Wales, however, as the Rams travel to the Wildcat Center for the quarterfinals Tuesday, Nov. 1. First serve in Providence, Rhode Island is slated for 7 p.m. and can be seen live on Stretch Internet. Live stats can also be viewed here.
MORE READING: Tuesday Trip to JWU for GNAC Quarterfinals on Docket for Volleyball
Here's a look back at the Rams that have already wrapped their conference championship appearances.
MEN'S GOLF 2016 GNAC CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
The Suffolk men's golf team shot a collective 646 to claim eighth at the 2016 GNAC Men's Golf Championships Oct. 15-16 at the Gorham Country Club hosted by Southern Maine.
MORE READING: Men's Golf Finishes Eighth at GNAC Championship
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY 2016 GNAC CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
The Suffolk men's and women's cross country teams each took sixth place in their respective heats of the GNAC Championships at Franklin Park Saturday, Oct. 29.
Emily Manfra made history as the freshman finished the 5k course in 20:02, just eight seconds behind individual winner Saint Joseph (Conn.)'s Kanee Gomez-Hixson to become the first Rookie of the Year in Suffolk's history. Her second-place finish was just one second ahead of classmate Emma Weisse, who took home third. The two first-year students garnered all-conference first-team accolades, which marks the first-time that two Rams earned a spot on the all-league team.
Audrey Kopich and David Campisano represented Suffolk on the all-sportsmanship team.
MORE READING: Men's and Women's Cross Country Takes Sixth at GNAC Championships | Manfra Highlights Four Rams All-GNAC Cross Country Nods
WOMEN'S TENNIS 2016 GNAC TOURNAMENT RECAP
Suffolk finished the GNAC regular season 5-1,identically matching Johnson & Wales and Simmons with all three teams going 1-1 against one another. The Wildcats earned the top spot thanks to the tiebreaker, while Simmons took second by virtue of its 5-4 head-to-head win over Suffolk, so the Rams would make their 10th consecutive conference tournament trip as the third seed.
After sweeping No. 6 Mount Ida, 5-0, in the quarterfinals, the Rams played a powerful No. 2 Simmons in the semis and fell, 5-2.
The Rams were well represented on the all-conference team as senior Aidiana Sagyndykova was named GNAC Player of the Year for the third straight season, marking the first time in GNAC women's tennis history the same person has won the highest honor. Sagyndykova is the second-ever Suffolk student-athlete to be named the conference's best player across the season in his or her sport three times following softball's Jess Ferreira BS '09, Med '10.
Sagyndykova picked up her fourth first-time singles recognition, with juniors Valentina Medina (singles first team, double second team) and Isabel Rathlev (doubles second team) and sophomore Elena Cisneros Garcia (all-sportsmanship team) also earning all-league nods.
MORE READING: #2 Simmons Shuts Down #3 Women's Tennis in GNAC Semifinals | Sagyndykoa Headlines Women's Tennis All-GNAC Selections