By Eric Coburn ’18
Sports Editor
This past fall season, Merrimack College saw three of their athletes capture All-American honors. For the men’s soccer team, the Warriors saw sophomore Lars Sund capture a spot on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American Third Team, while his fellow teammate senior Jaime Cortes Torres earned a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America spot.
Both players were the Warriors’ top two leading point getters with Sund earning 18 points and Cortes Torres earning 14.
“It feels great. I’ve worked hard ever since I came to Merrimack,” said Sund, who is a Stavanger, Norway native. “People back home reached out to me about it. It’s great knowing people back home keep up with it.”
“Years from now, I will come to visit and seeing my name written on the wall will be a great feeling,” said Seville, Spain native Cores Torres. “I am very happy.”
On the field hockey field, sophomore Mary McNeil was placed on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division II All-American First Team. This isn’t the first time McNeil has captured All-America honors. Last season, McNeil earned second team honors.
“It is a great honor,” said Canton, Mass. native McNeil. “But I also want to thank my coaches and teammates for their ongoing support because I honestly could not have done it without them.”
McNeil was one of the top point producers for the Warriors yet again, posting 21 points this season – good for an average of 1.24 points a game.
“She (McNeil) is an extremely talented player that helps our team improve on a daily basis,” commented head coach Anne Rounce.
Cortes Torres graduates this year, but with McNeil and Sund only sophomores and there is still much to be accomplished.
One common theme the two share when asked about what they want to accomplish in their next two years is to capture a national championship for their respective squads.
“We will continue to work hard all offseason and stay on the same page so we can accomplish all of our goals next season,” said McNeil.
