Entering the fall sports season, coaches are optimistic that their teams will do well. Of course, coaches are always hopeful about the potential of their squads, but recent history supports their positivity for 2024.

Men’s Soccer

The men’s soccer team enters 2024 as the reigning conference champion. They finished 9-5-3 last year (4-0-2 in conference play) and won the Atlantic East title, 1-0, over Cabrini. In the NCAA tournament, they fell in the first round to Mary Washington (ranked #2 in the country), 3-1, in OT.

Coach Erik Temple and his assistants were named Atlantic East coaching staff of the year in 2023, and they have two all-conference first team players returning, Alex Duopu and Jake Kuzmick, as well as second-teamer Gabriel Romero.

Temple also added five transfers from Cabrini, including first team all-conference Dominic Petruzzelli, and a graduate transfer from Division I Rider University, Justin Ruffino. Eight first-year players also joined the squad.

Key departures from the title team include Eddie Proud and 6’5” goalie Seth Walker, both first team all-conference players.

“I challenged the group in the spring not to be complacent, to maintain the underdog mentality that we have, and to readjust and recalibrate every day,” says Temple, now in his second year as head coach after seven years in an assistant role from 2014 to 2020.

The team has a tough non-conference schedule, including a stretch of five games in 13 days and a match against Division I LaSalle. Their home opener is September 1 at 1 p.m. vs. Arcadia University.

Women’s Soccer

Last year, the women’s soccer team finished with a record of 7-6-4 and lost to Marymount, 2-0, in the Atlantic East Conference semifinals.

Returning from that squad are two players who made the all-conference second team: Catherine Miller, who led the team with 17 points in 2023, and Jordan Bard. Key departures include Chloe Britton, a first team all-conference player.

The group has a new coach this year. Kurt Nusshag is a former college soccer star and professional player, who has served as an assistant coach to the team since 2022.

“When it comes to success everyone looks at the results,” Nusshag says. “I don't want the team to focus on the result. We're going to focus on good habits, work ethic, and training at a high level. If we do that on a daily basis, the results will take care of themselves.”

They open their season at home against Penn State Abington at 3 p.m. on August 30.

Women’s Volleyball

Another team coming off a successful 2023 is the women’s volleyball squad. Under Coach Alicia MacGlaughlin, the Knights finished with a record of 18-11 last year (4-1 in conference) and lost to Marymount, 3-0, in the Atlantic East championship match.

The team is losing Regan Hickey, Atlantic East player of the year, and Lauren Garvey, an all-conference first team player. The pair accounted for 815 points in 2023, 51% of the team’s scoring. Also gone from the squad are Claudia Bournazel, an all-conference second team player who transferred, and Ryen Hawkey, a veteran who opted not to play in 2024.

Better news for Coach MacGlaughlin is that Dani Smith, specialty player of the year, is returning as are sophomores Nayeli Cruz and Emma Dobberstein.

“We’re a young team with potential,” says MacGlaughlin, entering her 11th year as head coach and 14th with the team. She recruited six first-year players, who should provide some depth for the squad.

They open the season with six games on the road before their home opener on September 11 at 7 p.m. against Bryn Mawr.

Field Hockey

The field hockey team finished with a record of 5-13 last year and fell to Cabrini, 6-0, in first round of the Atlantic East tournament.

The good news for Coach Erik Enters is that his team lost five games by just one goal in 2023 and that two of his top scorers -- Cadence Conti, and Elle Smith -- return this year along with starting goalie Emma Schneider. The team also landed Molly McGee, a transfer from Cabrini who had 28 goals last season, and Meghan Sheldrick, who was one of the top-ranked players in New Jersey.

There were 14 first-year players on the team last year, six of whom started. With a year of experience under their belt and some talented new recruits, Enters, now in his fourth year at Neumann, and new assistant coach Jeneen Callahan are optimistic.

“I’d love to double our offensive output and cut our goals allowed in half,” he says. “If we do that, the record will take care of itself.”

They open their season with three straight home games: August 30 at 8 p.m. against Eastern Mennonite University, August 31 at 3:30 p.m. vs. Houghton University, and September 5 at 4 p.m. against Lancaster Bible College.

Cross Country

Under the direction of Coach Chris Simpson, the men’s and women’s cross country teams are set to compete in seven invitational or open events in 2024, culminating with the Atlantic East Conference championship on November 2 in Hudson Valley, New York.

The key departure from last year’s squad is Courtney Humphreys, who ran the 2023 conference 6K with a time of 25:19.2, good enough for third place. Neshaya Overton and Hakeem Hall are stepping away from cross country but will run track later in the year.

Returning for 2024 are Katie Baier, Sahdahya Addy and, on the men's side, Nahshon Harrison-Fobbs. Simpson also added two transfers to the team – one from LaSalle and a graduate student from Hartwick University – and two freshmen.

“We have young runners. We want to get them into the flow and have a decent showing in conference,” says Simpson, who is entering his fifth year as head coach and ninth year here.

They open their season in the Bryn Mawr Invitational on August 30 at 5 p.m. at Rose Tree Park in Media, PA.