NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. (5/14/26) - Four Franklin Pierce University student-athletes were recognized by the Northeast 10 Conference as nominees for two of the league's major end-of-year honors.
Claudia Peirce (Carver, Mass.) of women's soccer and Geno Facchetti (Wilbraham, Mass.) of football were selected as Franklin Pierce's nominees for NE10 Woman and Man of the Year, while Erin McIlroy (Newfields, N.H.) of women's lacrosse and Joey Acker (Upton, Mass.) of baseball were named the Ravens' nominees for NE10 Female and Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The Man and Woman of the Year awards recognize senior student-athletes who have excelled in all areas of their collegiate careers, including athletic competition, academics and community engagement. The Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards recognize student-athletes in their final year of eligibility who have achieved high academic standing while also making an impact in their respective sports.
Peirce, a health science major, put together one of the most decorated careers in Franklin Pierce women's soccer history. She helped lead the Ravens to three East Regional Championships in four seasons, including a national runner-up finish, while never missing a game during her collegiate career. In 2025, Peirce earned NE10 First Team All-Conference honors, the NE10 Elite 24 Award, CSC Academic All-District recognition, D2CCA All-East Region Second Team honors, USC All-East Region Second Team honors and USC Scholar All-Region accolades. She was also named NE10 Player of the Week and D2CIDA National Player of the Week during the season. Academically, Peirce owns a 3.94 career GPA and recorded a 4.0 GPA during the fall semester.
Facchetti, a health science major and standout for the Franklin Pierce football team, earned several major honors following the 2025 season. He was named a Second Team D2CCA All-American, D2CCA Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year, NE10 Defensive Player of the Year, NE10 First Team All-Conference selection, Joe Zabilski Award recipient and All-New England Team honoree. In the classroom, Facchetti has earned Dean's List recognition and completed a research project focused on the effect of calorie intake and sports performance. He has also participated in volunteer activities and arranged events as a resident assistant.
McIlroy, a health sciences major with a healthcare administration minor, compiled a 3.92 GPA while emerging as one of the top players in the NE10 for women's lacrosse. She earned 2025 CSC Academic All-District honors, a spot on the 2025 IWLCA Academic Honor Roll, and NE10 Academic All-Conference recognition. On the field, McIlroy was named the 2026 IWLCA National Offensive Player of the Week, earned multiple NE10 Player of the Week honors, received All-Conference recognition in both 2024 and 2025, and collected IWLCA All-Region Second Team honors in 2026. She was also named the program's Rookie of the Year in 2024 and team MVP in 2025.
Acker, a health science major with minors in chemistry and healthcare administration, posted a 3.89 GPA while serving as a leader within the baseball program and campus community. Acker earned CSC Academic All-District honors in both 2024 and 2025, was named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll and NE10 Academic All-Conference Team, and collected seven Dean's List selections. Athletically, he earned NE10 Second Team All-Conference honors twice and NE10 Player of the Week recognition. Acker also served as a team captain, Male Co-Chair of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and head of intramural sports.
The winners of each award will be announced at the NE10 Banquet in June.
