Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Jason Houghtaling, the Seahawks open the season at UConn on Thursday, August 29, in the first-ever matchup between the Green & White and the Huskies, an FBS opponent that competes in the American Athletic Conference (AAC).
Wagner's home opener is slated for September 7 when the Seahawks welcome the East Stroudsburg University Warriors, who compete in NCAA Division II. Wagner then hits the road for two straight games, beginning with a September 14 matchup at Stony Brook University of the Colonial Athletic Association, a 2018 NCAA Division I FCS Playoff participant.
Following the matchup with the Seawolves, Wagner will travel to Conference USA member Florida Atlantic University, the second FBS opponent that dots the Seahawks' 2019 slate. This will also mark the second-ever meeting between the programs as the eventual 2012 NEC champions traveled to Boca Raton, FL in the season opener, falling by a 7-3 count in a game that went right down to the wire.
On September 28, Wagner will host Long Island University (LIU), a first-year NEC football program that formerly competed on the Division II level as LIU Post, in the first of three consecutive home contests. On October 5, local rival Monmouth of the Big South Conference comes to Staten Island. Following a bye week, Wagner then begins a stretch of six straight NEC games, beginning with an October 19 home date vs. Robert Morris.
On October 26, the Green & White will travel to the Steel City to meet Duquesne before returning home to host Central Connecticut on November 2. Following consecutive road tilts at Sacred Heart (Nov. 9) and Saint Francis U (11/16).
The regular season will then come to a close at home the following week with a November 23 Senior Day matchup vs. Bryant.
2019 Schedule
Date Opponent
Thursday, August 29 at UConn
Saturday, September 7 vs. East Stroudsburg
Saturday, September 14 at Stony Brook
Saturday, September 21 at Florida Atlantic
Saturday, September 28 vs. LIU*
Saturday, October 5 vs. Monmouth [Homecoming]
Saturday, October 19 vs. Robert Morris*
Saturday, October 26 at Duquesne*
Saturday, November 2 vs. Central Connecticut*
Saturday, November 9 at Sacred Heart*
Saturday, November 16 at Saint Francis U*
Saturday, November 23 vs. Bryant*
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A NEW PARTNERSHIP
The Wagner College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), in partnership with the Northeast Conference (NEC), implemented a new mental health student-athlete social media campaign which was rolled out this week (March 18-22).
In the earliest stages, the key principles in formulating ideas and strategy for the campaign from Wagner included Seahawk Associate Athletic Director & Senior Woman's Administrator (SWA), Tatum Colitz, alongside Wagner SAAC representatives Vedika Anand of the women's tennis team, as well as men's lacrosse player Kevin Cruz.
Colitz, Anand and Cruz worked closely with NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris, and her staff, in working through the many details, including attending an NEC/SAAC in-person meeting back in the fall.
Anand then followed up with SAAC representatives from across the NEC to learn more about the creation of a unified mental health statement whose primary purpose was to increase awareness about the vital importance of mental health with respect to student-athletes.
The campaign proposal was then brought to administration, and later passed unanimously by the NEC Council of Presidents.
"The NEC SAAC Mental Health Campaign shows the unity that exists within the NEC and I'm in awe of the commitment and kindness shown by our student-athletes," said Colitz. "To see the social media campaign and their vision come to life has been incredibly rewarding, and I commend our students-athletes for their bravery and supporting one another on such an important topic."
Playing a major role in helping to coordinate and conduct the interviews with the student-athletes for the digital campaign included a Seahawk student-athlete herself, water polo player Kristy Donkin, who doubles as an intern in the Wagner media relations department. Primarily driven through social media, the campaign was also supported by fans at various Wagner home athletic events this past week through the NEC #ConNECted campaign.
To find the impetus into what evolved into this week’s mental health campaign, one has to go all the way back to December 1, 2016 when the NEC welcomed more than 70 individuals, ranging from athletic administrators and athletic trainers to student-athletes and other campus personnel, to Piscataway, NJ for the inaugural NEC Mental Health and Medical Issues Summit.