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Bridgewater, NJ — For the first time in four years, there's a new Northeast Conference (NEC) softball regular season champion in town.
LIU dethroned Saint Francis U of the NEC regular season crown for the first time since 2021, but the script has not been completely flipped when it comes to postseason awards, as the Red Flash walked away with two NEC major awards on Wednesday.
One of the league's most-feared hitters, Saint Francis U junior outfielder
Savannah Nash (Mechanicsville, VA/Atlee) brought the coveted NEC Player of the Year award back to Loretto for the first time since 2022.
History was made in Hackensack as strikeout machine
Brooklyn Shroyer (San Dimas, CA/Bonita) piggybacked an NEC Rookie of the Year campaign in 2024 by becoming FDU's first-ever NEC Pitcher of the Year.
Playing near perfect ball at the other hot corner, veteran first baseman
Olivia Ulam (Canonsburg, PA/Canon McMillan) added the Golden Glove Award to her stout résumé at Saint Francis U.
FDU has had a knack for producing the league's top freshman as of late, and this season was no exception as first-year outfielder
Madison Rishel (Strongville, OH/Strongville) followed in the footsteps of Knights' ace Shroyer to make it an NEC Rookie of the Year repeat in Hackensack.
Stonehill also made history on the eve of the NEC Softball Tournament, as senior catcher
Isabella Therrien (Auburn, MA/Auburn) became the program's first-ever major award winner when she was named the NEC's Most Improved Player.
Guided by a first-year head coach, but a very familiar face on the NEC softball circuit, in
Andy Russo, regular season champion LIU added the NEC Coaching Staff of the Year award to its trophy case for the 11th time in program history.
Now a three-time All-NEC honoree, Nash slugged her way to the pinnacle of the NEC by earning the league's most prestigious award. Delivering 33 RBI — sixth-most in the conference — from the Red Flash's leadoff spot, the Mechanicsville, VA native was the spark plug of one of the league's top-scoring offenses after crafting an outstanding .421/.477/.717 slash line in 47 games. Her batting average topped all NEC hitters while her 1.194 OPS was good for the third-best mark in the conference. Nash's bat packed a whole lot of power at the top of Saint Francis U's lineup. A whopping 24 of her 67 hits went for extra bases on one triple, 12 doubles and 11 homers, the latter two numbers being league-best marks. Runs did not come at a premium for the speedy outfielder. Crossing home a team-leading 37 times, Nash proved to be an elite base swiper as well as her 18 stolen bags topped the NEC's charts. Consistency was the name of the game for Nash. Slamming her way to a league-leading four NEC Player of the Week awards, her numbers against fellow NEC counterparts were just as impressive. During that 21-game stretch, she ranked among league leaders in batting average (.434 – 6th) and OPS (1.244 – 3rd), while her 25 runs, six home runs, six doubles and 10 stolen bases all ranked inside the conference's top three. Nash becomes the fourth Saint Francis U slugger to garner NEC Player of the Year distinction, joining Mekenzie Saban (2022), Cheyenne McKee (2018) and Taylor Parsons (2015). She returns to the diamond for the second-seeded Red Flash this weekend looking to add a second NEC Tournament ring to her count.
Pegged the NEC's queen of strikeouts after she put down the fourth-most batters in the nation via the strike as a rookie, Shroyer puzzled the opposition's lineup on the regular once again in 2025. The California native tied for the league-lead in punchouts with 157, pushing her career total to a remarkable 408 in just two seasons in Hackensack. Shroyer's destructiveness during the regular season was made evident by her stats, as she topped the NEC rankings in ERA (2.34) and opposing batting average (.217), while her 11 wins and three clean sheets were good for second in the circuit. Her numbers were even stingier in NEC play. The only conference hurler to crack the century mark in strikeouts (103), Shroyer was lights-out during the Knights' 21-game league slate with a 1.40 ERA and .166 opposing batting average. Included in that stretch was an impressive 22-strikeout performance against Mercyhurst on March 22, which to this day, stands as the top mark for all NCAA Division I hurlers in a game this season. The three-time NEC Pitcher of the Week accounted for nearly half of the Knights' 13 league wins after earning the dub in six outings. FDU's ace enters the postseason ranked 29th in the nation in strikeouts and 27th in strikeouts per seven innings (8.5).
A play at first base was a guaranteed out for Saint Francis U's infield with Ulam manning the position. The senior exhibited superior — and nearly flawless — fielding skills at the other hot corner throughout the entire league campaign. Getting action on 173 plays, 32 more than the next closest competitor in the conference, Ulam committed just one miscue with 165 putouts and seven assists for an efficient .994 fielding percentage, the second-best mark among fielders with 100-or-more chances. In addition, her keen eye, quick reflexes and high softball IQ resulted in the Keystone State native turning an NEC-leading seven double plays during the 21-game slate. Turning two a league-high 10 times on the season, Ulam paced all NEC players with a .992 fielding percentage after recording 346 putouts, 10 assists and three errors in 359 chances. She becomes the second Red Flash baller to garner NEC Golden Glove distinction since the award was first introduced for the 2012 season, joining former catcher/outfielder Kindra Witthus, who took home the honor in 2017.
Head coach Chris Foye has transformed Hackensack into a hot bed for young talent. For the third time since 2022, the ninth-year skipper has guided a first-year standout to NEC Rookie of the Year plaudits, as Rishel joins Shroyer (2024) and Jess DeWitt (2022) in earning the honor. Rishel's consistency at the plate helped the outfielder differentiate herself from a very talented crop of freshmen in the league. One of two rookies to bat north of .400 in league play, she closed out the 21-game conference slate ranked eighth with a .418 batting average. Overall, the Buckeye State product, who has belted out a league-leading 70 hits, was one of two NEC players to etch her name in the .400 Hitters Club at regular-season's end with a .414 clip, while her 38 runs were good for second-most in the circuit. Rishel was also a menace on the basepaths. She swiped the most bases during league play (11), while her 17 stolen bags on the season were second among NEC speedsters and one shy of the conference baseline, set by Nash.
Therrien's game grew by leaps and bounds in her senior season in Easton. She added .115 percentage points to her batting average from a year ago and hit at a .305 clip in 2025, a mark that ranked third among fellow Skyhawks. Making appearances in a team-best 48 games with 45 starts, the local product from Auburn, MA drove in 18 runs — seven more than the previous season — and doubled her extra-base hit total from a year ago after slamming six two-baggers and going yard four times. In addition, Therrien, who went 3-for-6 in stolen bases in 2024, was perfect on the base paths in her six attempts this year. During league play, the catcher was outstanding. Starting in all 18 games, she compiled a .404 average, slugged a team-best .596 with four doubles and a pair of homers, and also led Stonehill with 14 runs scored, nine walks and a .492 on-base percentage.
Russo joined the staff of LIU as a volunteer in 2008 and during his journey from longtime assistant to first-year head coach, he has accumulated six NEC regular season crowns, five NEC Tournament rings and four NEC Coaching Staff of the Year trophies. Boasting a roster that packs a slew of power, Russo and the Sharks muscled their way to an NEC Championship appearance for the seventh time in as many seasons in 2025. With threats up-and-down the lineup, LIU out slammed NEC competitors with a .444 slugging percentage — including a .542 clip in conference play — after blasting a league-leading 36 home runs. That power yielded 5.8 runs per outing for the league's top offense, a figure that ballooned to 7.9 runs per game during the 21-game conference slate. In terms of league play, the Sharks dropped their first series of the season to FDU but closed out the slate with authority. Crossing home nearly 600 times in that stretch, LIU, which defeated opponents by an average of 6.1 runs per contest, won at least two-of-three in each of its final six series. Most impressively, the Sharks used three consecutive sweeps of Stonehill, Mercyhurst and defending league champion Saint Francis U to vault to the top of the NEC standings, a spot they would not relinquish for the remainder of the season.
AWARD WINNER HIGHLIGHTS
FDU led the way with seven All-NEC picks, while Saint Francis U and LIU had six and five players earn all-conference distinction, respectively. The three postseason-bound squads combined for 10 All-NEC First Team selections, with the Red Flash placing a league-leading four on the conference's top squad.
A pair of NEC all-stars doubled up on their career All-NEC First Team nods, while Red Flash power hitter Ulam made it an impressive four-peat on the league's top squad. Shroyer appeared on the first team for the second consecutive year, while Nash extended her All-NEC spree to three after she was named to the second team in 2023 and the first team in 2024.
Saint Francis U junior catcher
Annabelle Farmer (Lancaster, OH/Lancaster) repeated as a second team member while three All-Rookie Team honorees from a season ago — including Shroyer — made seamless transitions to All-NEC squads this year.
LIU outfielder
Lily Hinkle (La Crescenta, CA/Crescenta Valley), a lefty who crossed home a league-leading 29 times and posted a 1.297 OPS in conference play, landed a spot on the first team while FDU's
Erika Barela (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.), a versatile infielder/outfielder who drove in 17 runs and scored 12 more to lead the Knights to the third seed in the NEC Tournament, made the cut for the second team as an outfielder.
FDU's starting rotation packed a dangerous one-two punch in Shroyer and senior
Julia Swan (Whippany, NJ/Whippany Park). The Garden State native's right arm propelled the Knights to seven league wins and a second All-NEC First Team nod for an FDU pitcher.
Rounding out the league's top hurlers was Saint Francis U sophomore
Allie Braly (Kansas City, MO/Raytown). The righty finished in a three-way tie with Swan and Wagner ace
Karson Zavala (Chino Hills, CA/Ruben S. Ayala), a second teamer, for most wins with 12 on the season while her 2.19 ERA against conference competitors was good for second in the NEC statistics.
Braly was joined on the first team by shortstop
Hannah Bendle (New Concord, OH/John Glenn). Against conference foes, the sophomore batted .404 and calculated a 1.177 OPS behind four moon shots.
The regular season champs produced two more first teamers in senior third baseman
Alyssa Polemeni (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) and sophomore utility player
Kaylee Clarkson (Newbury Park, CA/Westlake) joined Hinkle on the league's top squad. Finishing fourth in conference play with six doubles while launching six of her 11 long balls during that 21-game stretch, Polemeni led all players with 41 RBI on the season. Clarkson's name is peppered among the conference's top 10 in a plethora of categories, including on-base percentage (.486 – 10th), runs (18 – 9th), RBI (19 – 7th), doubles (7 – 3rd), walks (16 – 3rd) and stolen bases (5 – t-8th).
The future of NEC softball looks even brighter as the league's two all-conference squads were plastered with eight rookies.
In addition to Rishel, Le Moyne's home run leader and third baseman
Cianna Benamati (Ballston Lake, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) as well as Wagner designated player
Taylor Reynolds (Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley) inked their names on the All-NEC First Team.
Rookie
Kailee O'Sullivan (Plainfield, IL/Providence Catholic) highlighted three All-NEC Second Team picks from FDU by earning two spots on the squad as a first baseman and utility player. She was joined on both the second team and the All-Rookie Team by fellow infielder — and classmate —
Brianna Holguin (Anaheim, CA/Cypress).
Two other standouts added All-NEC Second Team plaudits to their All-Rookie Team nods. Saint Francis U designated player
AB Cipalla (Erie, PA/Harbor Creek) and Stonehill third baseman
Grace Conaway (St. Paul Park, MN/Park of Cottage Grove) doubled up on their postseason awards by landing on both squads.
Senior second baseman
Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, NY/Sayville) made it a program-record two first team members for the Dolphins after hitting .395 in 18 league contests.
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.
2025 Northeast Conference Softball Award Winners
Player of the Year
Savannah Nash Saint Francis U OF Jr R/R Mechanicsville, VA/Atlee
Pitcher of the Year
Brooklyn Shroyer FDU P So R/R San Dimas, CA/Bonita
Golden Glove Award
Olivia Ulam Saint Francis U 1B Sr R/R Canonsburg, PA/Canon McMillan
Rookie of the Year
Madison Rishel FDU OF Fr L/R Strongville, OH/Strongville
Most Improved Player
Isabella Therrien Stonehill C Sr R/R Auburn, MA/Auburn
Coaching Staff of the Year
Andy Russo, LIU
Bill Gehrke & Ryan Henry
2025 Northeast Conference Softball First Team All-Conference
Pos Name School Yr B/T Hometown/High School