Coaches

Samantha Aucoin

Samantha Aucoin '12 has been the head coach of the New England College women's lacrosse program since June of 2022.


In 2024, in the Pilgrims' first season in the GNAC, NEC went 4-7 in league play with senior Cassie Kelly being voted All-GNAC second team while senior Carleigh Knotts was voted third team all-conference. Kelly had a historic 2024 campaign, setting school records for caused turnovers in a game (13), caused turnovers in a season (75) and caused turnovers in a career (137). At press time, Kelly was leading the GNAC in caused turnovers and in ground balls per game (5.47) while ranking third in the nation in caused turnovers per game (4.41). Knotts went the distance for NEC, playing every second in goal and ranking fourth in the nation in save percentage (53.0) and saves per game (12.47), with both marks leading the conference.


In 2023, in Aucoin's first season as head coach, the Pilgrims won the last-ever New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) championship, finishing the year with a 9-7 record.


Aucoin had spent the last previous years at Ottawa University in Kansas, where she compiled a 35-22 (.565) overall record with the Braves while also going 22-11 in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) action. During her time in Ottawa, she coached three All-Americans, two Defensive Players of the Year, one Offensive Player of the Year, eight First-Team All-Conference, and seven second-teamers. Her teams succeed on and off the field, as they had two KCAC Championship appearances while also having three Academic All-Americans.


"We are very excited to bring Sam Aucoin back to Henniker as our new Head Coach of Women's Lacrosse, said DeCew. "She brings a wealth of experience as a head coach and recruiter, an understanding of our community, and shares our values of a holistic approach to student-athlete development."


Before Ottawa, Aucoin spent three seasons at Midland University, where she coached four First-Team All-Conference selections and one Offensive Player of the Year, and one Defensive Player of the Year. The Henniker, N.H. native began her coaching career at Anna Maria, where she was the coach from 2012 to 2014.


Aucoin earned a Bachelors's Degree in Sport and Recreation Management from the New England College in 2012 and is currently working on her MBA with a focus in Sport and Recreation Management from NEC.