Coppin State junior Jordan Hamberg (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) concluded the Eagles’ inaugural season as an NEC affiliate by claiming the baseball scholar-athlete award. Hamberg’s exceptional performance garnered national recognition, as he was named one of the 12 semifinalists for the prestigious John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year award. Demonstrating his versatility, Hamberg excelled both at the plate and on the mound. He hit .306 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs, and ranked among the NEC top-10 in on-base percentage (.449), slugging percentage (.556), OPS (1.005), walks (35) and triples (four). During NEC play, he posted a 3-2 record with 50 strikeouts in 36.0 innings, and a league-leading .191 opponent batting average. For the year, he ranked 23rd nationally with 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings. Additionally, the South Plainfield, NJ product received the NEC Player of the Week accolade on February 21. Hamberg, who majors in Sport Management, carries a 3.93 GPA and is a member of both the NEC Academic and Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

Sacred Heart junior Chantal El Chaib (Abu Dhabi, UAE/The British School) was the best-of-the-best in the NEC on the links, and now adds the women’s golf scholar-athlete award to her growing resumé. From claiming the 2022 NEC Rookie of the Year honor to being crowned the 2023 NEC Golfer of the Year, El Chaib showcased her exceptional skills by averaging 74.0 strokes over 31 rounds, the lowest in the NEC. Her outstanding season reached its pinnacle at the NEC Championship, where she carded a 1-under 215 to secure the individual title and contribute to Sacred Heart’s second straight team crown. The Abu Dhabi, UAE native was the lone student-athlete to finish under par and her 54-hole score tied for the second-lowest in NEC Championship history. Over the course of the season, El Chaib won five individual events and posted 11 top-10 finishes in 12 meets, solidifying her spot on the All-Conference first team for the second straight year. El Chaib has been named to the NEC Academic Honor Roll in all three of her years at SHU and earned a place on the NEC Commissioner’s Honor Roll this spring. Having compiled a 3.87 GPA, El Chaib is pursuing a major in Strategic Communication, PR & Advertising.

Saint Francis U graduate student Autumn McHenry (Branford, CT/Branford) put a bow on her year by capturing co-women’s lacrosse scholar-athlete honors. McHenry’s exceptional performance made history, as she became the first-ever NEC Midfielder of the Year for the Red Flash and the first player in program history to be selected for the IWLCA North/South Senior Game. Displaying her skills on both sides of the field, she set a single-season school record with 53 goals and racked up 70 points, ranking first in the conference in goals per game (3.31) and second in points per game (4.38). McHenry’s impact extended beyond scoring, as she also excelled in draw controls (5.13) and caused turnovers (1.56), finishing second in the NEC in both per-game categories. Notably, she was the only player in the conference to rank in the top five in draws, goals and points. Recognized as an All-NEC first teamer, McHenry secured hat tricks in each of her final seven regular-season games. She recorded a remarkable nine-goal effort in a victory over CCSU, the highest single-game goal tally in the league this past spring. Her offensive output also placed her among the top-25 nationally in goals and points per game. McHenry was a three-time NEC Player of the Week and also earned an NEC Defensive Player of the Week nod. McHenry’s career accomplishments included ranking second in program history in points (206), assists (75), draw controls (237) and caused turnovers (64), along with fourth in goals (131) and sixth in ground balls (105). The Branford, CT product has been named to the NEC Academic Honor Roll five times and the NEC Commissioner’s Honor Roll on four occasions. Furthermore, she received recognition as a member of the 2023 CSC Academic All-District Team. As an undergraduate, McHenry earned her degree in Nursing, and she is currently pursuing her MBA. She recorded a 3.78 GPA as an undergraduate and has registered a 3.86 GPA in her graduate studies.

Stonehill senior attack Lydia Rudden (Hopkinton, MA/Hopkinton) concluded her inaugural year in the NEC by sharing the women’s lacrosse scholar-athlete award. Rudden led the NEC in points (72), points per game (4.80), assists (48) and assists per game (3.20). On a national level, she ranked second in the country in assists per game and eighth in total assists. Rudden’s achievements earned her a spot on the All-NEC first team and a coveted roster position at the prestigious IWLCA Senior All-Star Game. Prior to Stonehill’s elevating its program to DI, Rudden had already established herself as a standout player, earning recognition as a 2022 IWLCA first team D2 All-American and the 2022 NE10 Attack of the Year. Her assist total this past spring ranks third in program history, closely following her own record-setting total of 77 assists a year ago. Rudden wrapped her stellar career ranked eighth in program history with 237 points, including a school record 154 assists. Rudden’s success on the field was complemented by her achievements off the field. She was named Stonehill’s Edward E. Martin Female Senior Scholar-Athlete Award and Outstanding Philosophy Student Award winner. Additionally, she was nominated for the NEC Student-Athlete of the Year award and was Stonehill’s NCAA Woman of the Year nominee. Rudden actively contributed to her academic community, serving as a Honors Program Mentor, writing tutor at the Center for Writing and Achievement and teaching assistant at the Meehan School of Business. She was a two-time CSC Academic All-District At Large honoree and earned a spot on the NEC Academic and Commissioner’s Honor Roll. After achieving a 3.88 GPA as a Philosophy major, the Hopkinton, MA native will continue her educational journey at Boston College Law School as a Juris Doctor candidate.

Showcasing her versatility as a premier two-way player, Saint Francis U graduate student Rachel Marsden (Erie, PA/McDowell) claimed a share of the softball scholar-athlete honor. Named to the 2023 All-NEC first team as both a pitcher and designated player, she ranked second in the NEC in home runs (8) and ERA (3.18), third in strikeouts (150), fourth in RBIs (28) and wins (13), fifth in doubles (11) and ninth in batting average (.292). Marsden was further recognized when she was selected as a 2023 National Fastpitch Coaches Association second team All-Region honoree as a pitcher/utility player. Her abilities as a two-way player were further acknowledged when she was named the eighth-best two-way player by Extra Innings. She was recognized as a three-time NEC Player of the Week and two-time NEC Pitcher of the Week, and also earned a spot on the NEC All-Tournament Team. Marsden played a significant role in SFU’s sustained success, contributing to three consecutive NEC regular-season titles (2021, 2022, and 2023) and two NEC Tournament championships (2021, 2022). She was named the 2022 NEC Pitcher of the Year, and has achieved three-time first team All-NEC honors as a pitcher and two as a designated player. Additionally, Marsden received the Frank & Marie Picarella Scholarship Award at the annual SFU Athletics Awards dinner and was honored with CSC Academic All-District accolades. She has appeared on NEC Academic and Commissioner’s Honor Roll lists four times apiece. Hailing from Erie, PA, she is pursuing a major in Management/Marketing and maintains a 3.90 GPA.