This week in Suffolk University sports: Men’s hockey secures top three conference finish, women’s hockey snaps losing streak ahead of playoffs and men’s and women’s basketball wrap up regular season with wins.
Men’s hockey secures top-three finish in conference standings
Facing Conference of New England rival Curry College in a must-win game Feb. 20, men’s hockey delivered a convincing 5-0 shutout of the Colonels. The win increases the Rams’ current win streak to 10 games and snaps their 13-game skid against the Colonels. The last time Suffolk had defeated Curry was in November 2015.
After a scoreless first period, Joe O’Brien, Nick Liotino and Alex Ondos all lit the lamp for the Rams in the second, with Ondos and O’Brien each recording a goal and an assist. Scott McManus and Aidan O’Connell added on in the third to put the finishing touches on the win. Freshman Austin McNicholas put together his fifth shutout of the season with an outstanding 33 save performance.
Needing another win to secure a first-round bye in the CNE playoffs, the Rams ultimately fell short of that chance with a 4-1 loss to the Colonels the next day, snapping their winning streak.
Goals by Killian Rowlee and Mason Kesselring made it 2-0 Curry after one before Andrew Morton made it 3-0 early in the second. Jake Grace scored for Suffolk to get the Rams on the board before a shorthanded strike by Rowlee iced the win for the Colonels.
Suffolk secured a third-place finish in the standings as a result, giving them a first-round matchup against Johnson & Wales University Feb. 25. The Rams are a perfect 3-0 against the Wildcats this season, winning by scores of 6-0, 3-2 and 4-1.
Women’s hockey splits weekend as playoff seeding finalized
The losing streak is over at six games for women’s hockey. Improving to 6-9-2 in CNE play and 6-16-2 overall in just their second win in 2026, Suffolk slipped past Curry with a 2-1 win on the road Feb. 20.
Katie Newkirk opened the scoring for the Rams 8:15 into the game on an unassisted goal. Suffolk doubled the lead 2:09 later when Anya Nichipor converted on an assist from Laurel Potter. The Colonels got on the board late in the third with a power play goal, but Katelyn Michals stopped the other 46 shots on goal she faced in the game to preserve the much-needed win.
The next day saw a senior day matchup with Johnson & Wales in East Boston, where tri-captains Liliana Moose, Jenna Caballero and Katie Newkirk were recognized for their contributions to the program.
The game was tied 1-1 through two periods and 2-2 after 60 minutes thanks to goals from Caballero and Bella Schmidt for Suffolk, plus Grace Adams and Jordan Hopping for the Wildcats. Sophia Brea scored less than two minutes into overtime to give the Wildcats the win.
As a result, the Rams earned the fifth seed in the CNE playoffs. They will travel to Biddeford, Maine, to take on the University of New England in the first round Feb. 25. It will be a tough task for Suffolk, as the Nor’Easters have shut out the Rams in all three games between them this season, winning by scores of 4-0, 3-0 and 5-0.
Men’s basketball ends regular season on high note with road victory
Locked into third place in the CNE standings, men’s basketball wrapped up the regular season on the road against Gordon College Feb. 21, cruising to a 76-63 win over the Fighting Scots.
James Jones was a force for the Rams, picking up another double-double on the back of 18 points and 13 rebounds. Declan Davis joined Jones in double figures thanks to 14 points on 4-for-5 shooting from three. Greg Keane scored eight points and picked up eight boards while blocking two more shots to remain near the top of the leaderboards in the country in blocks per game.
The Rams secured a first-round matchup against UNE at home Feb. 25 in the playoffs. Suffolk won both matchups against the Nor’Easters this season, winning 75-69 on the road Jan. 6 before routing them 84-55 at home Feb. 14 in a game that doubled as the team’s senior day celebration.
Women’s basketball closes season with road win
On the road against Gordon Feb. 21, women’s basketball was able to wrap up the regular season with a 53-45 victory over the Fighting Scots, finishing the season with a 12-13 overall record and a 6-10 CNE record.
Allison Bono’s 18-point, 10-rebound double-double paced the Rams in production, with Ava Thurman and Mia Corazzini also pulling down 10 boards. Tatiana Tune’s 12 point game and Claire Berkowitz’s 10 point performance saw them join Bono in double figures offensively. Berkowitz made two threes on the day, the only Ram to convert from beyond the arc.
Track & field sees pair of records rewritten
Indoor track & field competed at the USATF New England indoor championships Feb. 22 at Harvard University, the last regular-season meet of the indoor schedule.
Hilma Ortega doubled up in personal bests as part of a five-PR day on the women’s team. Ortega ran to a 8.09 second showing in the 60-meter dash before breaking the school record in the 60-meter hurdles with a 9.36 second time.
On the men’s side, Will Manix set the school record in the 400-meter dash with a 50.69 second time. Eight personal bests were set in total for the men’s team, while the 4×440 yard relay team of Connor Johnson, Tighe Hosman, Charlie Billard and Emmett St. Pierre ran to a first-place finish with a 3:35.70 final time.
