HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College Department of Athletics inducted their 2023 Athletics Hall of Fame Class on Saturday in the Simon Great Room in an event attended by former teammates, friends, family and athletics staff, among the pomp and circumstance of Fall Festival Weekend. Director of Athletics Dave DeCew presided over the event, with NEC President Wayne F. Lesperance providing opening comments.

2023 Athletics Hall of Fame Class

Allison Dotson (née Granata) of the Class of 2017 produced one of the most remarkable careers in the history of the NEC women's lacrosse team, scoring 206 goals with 57 assists in 72 games over four seasons. Granata opened her career with an outstanding rookie season as she would be voted the 2014 North Athletic Conference (NAC) Rookie of the Year. Granata went on to earn All-Conference honors all four years with the Pilgrims. Her career culminated in 2017 when she claimed the NAC Player of the Year award, leading the team to the conference finals while also claiming CoSIDA Academic All-American honors. She currently ranks third all-time in career goals and fourth all-time in career assists in the Pilgrim record books. A two-sport athlete who competed with the cross-country program, Granata was also a standout runner, earning NAC All-Conference honors three times and to this day claiming four of the top ten finishes in school history.

Brett Kilar of the Class of 2017 posted one of the most legendary goaltending careers in the history of NEC's storied men's ice hockey program. As a junior and the full-time starting goalie, Kilar led the team to the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) quarterfinals for the first time in school history, earning his first of two All-NEHC honors. Kilar saved his best for last in his senior year in the 2016-2017 season when he ranked second in the entire nation in shutouts and fifth in save percentage, earning the NEHC Goaltender of the Year award and leading the team of the NEHC finals. Kilar was voted AHCA All-American Honors and was selected as a New England Division II/III All-Star. For his career, Kilar won 34 career games between the pipes for the Pilgrims.

Abby Blanchard (née Shafer) of the Class of 2018 was arguably the most storied student-athlete in the history of the NEC women's cross-country program. Shafer was a four-time North Athletic Conference (NAC) Runner of the Year, winning the individual race at the conference championships all four years. Shafer was a four-time All-Conference selection, the 2013 NAC Rookie of the Year and a three-time qualifier for the NCAA Regionals. She continues to hold the Pilgrims' all-time records in both the 6K (21:39 in 2015) and 5K (18:28 in 2014) events, leading NEC to the conference championship in 2013.

Matt Richard of the Class of 2018 was a dominant attacker for the men's lacrosse program during his time with the Pilgrims, earning three North Athletic Conference (NAC) Player of the Year awards while making four All-NAC Teams. Richard scored 170 goals with 253 assists at NEC, leading the entire nation in assists per game in 2018 and in points per game in 2017. Richard led the Pilgrims to three conference championships during his time in Henniker, as the team went 50-26 during his time on the field. In his senior season in 2018, Richard led the Pilgrims to their first victory in the NCAA Tournament in school history, a 10-9 victory over Albion in the first round. He finished his career as NEC's all-time leader in career assists, assists in a season, career points and points in a season.

Lindsey Foley (née Inman) of the Class of 2005 was a defensive star for the NEC field hockey team from 2001 to 2004, earning NFHCA All-American Second Team honors in 2004, and being named First Team All-Region in 2003 and 2004. In her four seasons with the program, Foley led the Pilgrims to a 52-25 record while winning three Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championships and earning First Team All-Conference accolades twice. A two-sport athlete, Inman was also a standout softball player for the Pilgrims, where she reached the 100 career hit milestone list and earned a CCC Honorable Mention in 2004.

Mary Ellen Alger is one of the most important figures in the history of New England College as a whole and with the NEC athletics department in a particular and has been a mainstay of the New England College community for more than three decades. Alger first joined the Pilgrims in 1988, taking over as the head coach of the women's basketball and softball programs. During her ten years as the coach of the women's basketball team, the team reached the postseason four times, and in 1993 they hoisted the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship trophy. Alger was even more impactful during her tenure as the Director of Athletics from 1991 to 2000, where she laid much of the groundwork for what the department and the college have grown into. Since stepping down from that position, she has continued to teach in the Kinesiology department.

The 2004-05 New England Men's Ice Hockey Team, one of the most successful teams in the history of NEC athletics, started their season out slow, dropping the first four games and six of eight. The Pilgrims ended the fall semester with a 9-1 win against Johnson & Wales (R.I.). NEC used the momentum that they garnered from that win into the second half of the year, as they closed out the regular season with a 12-4 record.

In the ECAC East Playoffs, New England College cruised to a 7-1 win over Salem State University in the Quarterfinals, before knocking off top-seed Norwich University, 6-5, in the semis. In the championship game against Babson College, NEC used a four-goal second period to down the Beavers to capture their second-ever conference championship.

In the NCAA Tournament, NEC squared off against the Valiants of Manhattanville, the number one-ranked team in the nation. The Pilgrims took the Quarterfinals matchup 4-2, thanks to a Nick Warriner hat-trick, including the game-winning goal with five minutes remaining in regulation. Scott Gray turned aside 38 shots between the pipes to pick up the win for NEC. In the NCAA National Semifinals, the Pilgrims carried a 2-1 lead into the third period, but a flurry of Middlebury College goals ended the New England College season at 18-12-0.

The members of the 2004-05 team, under the direction of head coach Tom Carroll and assistant coach Jim Hayes, included: Nick Nozzolillo, Phil Goebel, Robin Bjorkman, Joe Garofalo, Greg Tam, Shaun Stairs, Anders Johnansson, Jeff VanDyke, Rashaun Ewing, Ben Corriveau, Nick Warriner, Joe Loiselle, Tor Ahman, Jon Bellonio, Jeremy Koning, RA Mobile, Mike Carmody, Justin Bodine, Pat Melillo, Bob Pauls, Dory Sarkis, TJ Carmody, Tor Persson, Matt Rogers, Evan Erdmann, Paul Ruta, Saingbey Woodtor, Joe Porcaro, Michael Shimek, Scott Gray, Branislav Srnka, Nick Caouette, Nick Fouts, Eddie Ardito, Jonathan Lachance, director of hockey operations Jeff Siegel and team managers Chester Shea and Shawn Keaveny.

Congratulations to all the inductees on their incredible accomplishments.

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