#PawsUp: A Championship Fall for Adelphi Athletics

For Women’s Golf, the First NE10 Title in Program History

Just 10 years after the establishment of the Adelphi women’s golf program, the Panthers completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent NE10 history.

When head coach Bill Bresnan assumed leadership midway through the 2021–2022 season, the program had never finished higher than fifth at the NE10 Championship. By the following fall, the Panthers had surged to a then-program-best runner-up finish, fueled by Ilaria Ponziani ’24’s record-setting individual title.

Three years later, the ’Cats reached the pinnacle.

For the Win: Women’s Golf Secures Victory

Adelphi clinched its first-ever NE10 Championship this fall, posting an 88-over team score across two days to win by a commanding 23 strokes. The Panthers built a 14-stroke lead after the first round and never looked back, displaying consistency and composure throughout the 36-hole tournament.

Filippa Schulze Doering, the 2023–2024 NE10 Rookie of the Year, tied for second individually at 20-over, shaving four strokes off her total from Day 1 to Day 2. Nikola Truhlarova followed closely in fifth (+21), buoyed by an impressive second-round 78. Ivory Drusch and Jenny Kim locked down sixth and eighth place, respectively, while Lauren Jaskier added a top-12 finish to round out the scoring.

Men’s Golf Secures Second-Straight NE10 Runner-Up Result

The Adelphi University men’s golf team continued its resurgence under head coach David Mattana, JD, finishing as the NE10 runner-up for the second consecutive season—this time by a narrow four-stroke margin behind two-time defending champion Southern New Hampshire University.

The Panthers entered the championship as the top selection in the NE10 Pre-Championship Poll, and their strong play validated that confidence.

Mitchell Archer led Adelphi with a fourth-place finish at 4-over, firing rounds of 74, 71, and 72 while collecting 10 birdies, en route to NE10 All-Championship Team honors. Zeus Sara placed seventh at 7-over, stamped by an opening-round 72, with Johnny Solari rounding out the top-10 at 10-over.

Ahaan Dhir added a steady 14th-place finish (12-over), and Francis Lanuza delivered one of the weekend’s most electric performances, subbing in after Round 1 and carding back-to-back rounds of 71 (E) and 70 (-1). Lanuza excelled at the par-5 10th hole, circling the scorecard twice there in what led to six total birdies across his two rounds.

National Champions Receive Their Rings … Again

A spotlight shined on Adelphi men’s lacrosse, as the team celebrated back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships with a dazzling ring ceremony—honoring a run that ended a 23-year drought in 2024 and doubled down with another trophy in 2025.

The Panthers secured their latest title last May with a dramatic 9–8 overtime victory against top-seeded University of Tampa at Gillette Stadium, where Kyle Lewis, after the ’Cats won the opening face-off of sudden death, scored the game winner just 1:19 into extra time.

The ceremony unveiled a striking championship ring, trimmed in gold, crowned with a radiant AU lettermark, and adorned with two national championship trophies. Head Coach Gordon Purdie became only the third coach in program history to win multiple NCAA titles, joining legendary Adelphi men’s lacrosse coaches Paul “Doc” Doherty and Sandy Kapatos—both of whom are Adelphi Athletic Hall of Famers in their own right.

The Panthers stand as the first program since 2019 to repeat as Division II men’s lacrosse national champions.

2025 Athletic Hall of Fame Class Announced

The Adelphi University Department of Athletics proudly introduced its 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame class, honoring a distinguished group of student-athletes and coaches whose accomplishments continue to elevate the University’s legacy.

This year’s class features five individual inductees and a Legendary Team. Among them is Greg Nerko ’70, MA ’74, recipient of the Frank Cassell Memorial Award, recognized for decades of leadership, service and unwavering support for Adelphi Athletics. Joining him is Bill Eickelberg ’75, the Woodruff Award honoree, celebrated for more than 40 years as a teacher, multi-sport coach and champion of inclusive physical education.

The class also includes standout performers whose athletic achievements left an indelible mark on their programs:

● Kaitlyn Carter ’11, MA ’18, a dynamic midfielder who played a pivotal role in three consecutive NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse national championships.

● Andrew Coelho ’13, a trailblazer in cross country and track and field as Adelphi’s first men’s individual national qualifier, and a two-time All-American.

● Dan DeMilt ’93, a centerpiece of the 1993 baseball team and an ABCA All-American whose postseason performance helped carry the Panthers to the NCAA Division II College World Series.

● Brenna Martini ’18, MS ’20, one of the most decorated hitters in Adelphi softball history, a three-time All-American and a record-setting force at third base.

● Frank Tashman ’86, a two-time All-American, and one of the leading offensive players of Adelphi’s Division I men’s lacrosse era.

Rounding out the class is the 1993 Adelphi University baseball team, a legendary group whose unprecedented first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II College World Series secured their place among the University’s most iconic squads.

Together, the 2025 inductees represent excellence across generations, reinforcing Adelphi’s proud tradition of competitive achievement, leadership and community impact.