Duck Diaries: Ahead of the Game: Stevens Athletes Achieve, Lead and Succeed

Ethan Hagen, Class of 2026, mechanical engineering major
Men’s Soccer

I have been part of the Stevens Men’s Soccer program, playing and starting in games since the fifth game of my first year. Being a Stevens student-athlete has enhanced my experience by surrounding me with a comforting, enjoyable and successful community. The soccer team has allowed me to create lifelong friendships and memories that will stay with me forever. Stevens Athletics has given me an outlet to improve my mental and physical health as well.

The greatest keys to success for me have been connecting with the university’s supportive community and learning efficient time management. The staff and coaches encourage success and hard work, while also being there if you are ever in need of a helping hand. Constantly using and updating my calendar to ensure that I accomplish multiple assignments and projects while staying on top of soccer responsibilities has made it easy to cover all my bases. There have been many late nights when I was tired, but I tried my best to use each and every day to its maximum. Having teammates who are willing to push and hold me accountable has allowed me to be consistent and diligent despite a demanding schedule.

As I worked my way to senior year, I experienced the ups and downs of working with a team. Being able to lead and take ownership of tasks, in groups and as an individual, are skills that transfer to the working world. High-pressure moments in athletics have also prepared me for scenarios that a job will likely present. This athletic-academic balance has taught me that I can accomplish many things when I put my mind to it.

In Spring 2026, I will complete my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. I have also applied to an accelerated master’s degree program at Stevens, which I hope to start in the spring and finish in Fall 2026. My plan for after graduation is to continue schooling and finish my master's degree. Once my student-athlete career is over, the numerous avenues for playing soccer post-grad will be calling my name, making it possible for me to fulfill my love for competition.

Since I have been a part of the Men’s Soccer team, we have won three straight Mid-American Conference (MAC) championships. Right now, we are in pursuit of my fourth MAC championship. I have also been selected twice to participate on the conference’s All-MAC Second Team, chosen for the United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team, and selected to play on the 2024 Men's Soccer Academic All-MAC Team – experiences I would not have had without being part of an athletics program at Stevens. The All-Region award was a great achievement that I hope to repeat. Outside of athletics, I am a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, the Pi Tau Sigma mechanical engineering honor society, and Tau Beta Pi, a national engineering honor society.

Stevens student-athletes have an immense amount of care for something bigger than themselves, and we are willing to work hard and sacrifice. Sometimes we are inspired to prove something to those who doubt or question our abilities and drive. As a result, our efforts are often rewarded with success in avenues we hadn’t anticipated.

Dorothy Loffredo, Class of 2026, finance major, with a minor in accounting
Women’s Basketball

Playing on the Women’s Basketball team has inspired me to achieve more than I ever thought I could. Representing the university and this program has been rewarding and provided opportunities that have shaped me into the person that I am today. Balancing being a student-athlete is not always easy, but has taught me time management, leadership, communication, adaptability and so much more. These will be skills that I carry with me as I enter the workforce and continue to establish myself in the real world.

I am majoring in finance with a minor in accounting. While I will complete my bachelor’s degree in May 2026, I will also begin the master’s program in accounting and analytics in January 2026, with a timeline to complete it in December of the same year.

I am also entering my fourth year on the Women’s Basketball team and was named captain for my senior year. I have been on the MAC All-Academic Team for the past two seasons and won a MAC championship last season – a particularly special accomplishment because we were the three-seed going into the tournament, upset an opponent on the road and came home to win the championship on our home court!

In addition to that, traveling to the NCAA tournament and trips to Oregon and Florida were amazing team experiences! Personally, I am proud of the way I have been able to balance being a student and an athlete. Everyone talks about time management when you start college, but coping with a packed schedule is not always easy. Learning how to balance all the tasks required by academics and athletics has prepared me for the challenges I will face in the professional world.

Outside of basketball, I am vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), which organizes events to help enhance the student-athlete experience at Stevens. We also plan activities that give back to our Hoboken neighbors, such as food drives and campus events that are open to the community.

I came to Stevens knowing that it would be a great fit because of its reputable academics and competitive athletics. Each day, I am challenged both on and off the court. Being a student-athlete has allowed me to meet so many great people and make great connections. It has also led to becoming involved in new and unexpected things, like SAAC and event planning.

There are a lot of overlaps with being a student-athlete and preparing for a career in finance. Being a student-athlete requires a lot of communication. Whether you are working with coaches or professors, you have to be your own advocate. You need to learn how to communicate with all parties when you miss a class for travel or miss a practice because of class. Being on top of my schedule and communicating with those around me will help me in the finance world.

Accountability is another connection between the two. Holding yourself to a high standard and demanding the best is something that will translate from being a student-athlete into a professional role.

Teamwork, however, is by far the most important overlap between being a student and an athlete at Stevens. Being on the basketball team speaks for itself, but academically, there are so many group projects, presentations and assignments where I have grown as a teammate off the court as well. This will translate enormously to my ability to succeed in finance.

I am fortunate to have been able to build all of these skills over the last four years and know that they will help me succeed in the future.

Emilia Lopes, Class of 2026, chemical engineering major
Women’s Field Hockey

Having the privilege of being a student-athlete has positively impacted my Stevens experience. It allowed me to settle in very quickly to campus life and has provided an opportunity to build a family that has my back regardless of the situation. There is always someone to help me with whatever I need with no hesitation, and I believe that is why we are such a strong team.

I am studying chemical engineering, and plan to graduate in 2026. I have been a part of the MAC Fall Sports Academic Honor Roll and National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III National Academic Squad since I started my career here at Stevens. I am an All-MAC Freedom First Team and NFHCA Second Team All-Region recipient as well as a team leader in minutes played for the 2024 season. So far this season, I am co-captaining the team along with three of my teammates.

Outside of athletics, I am actively involved in the Gamma Zeta chapter of the chemical engineering honors society Omega Chi Epsilon (OXE) and am active in the student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

Serving as a team captain allows me to practice using my voice and leading by example, helping to set a high bar for the team. Most importantly, it taught me that I have to do more than lead the team; I have a responsibility to encourage our teammates to use their voices as well. It is important for everyone to contribute their strengths and different experiences. Every member has insights that can help us win games.

My team and Stevens are very tightly knit communities. I think being a part of a smaller school allows all of the sports teams to interact more often – I have good friends from different sports – and we all support each other in competition, in the classroom and socially. We look out for each other as we all work for our teams to be as successful as possible.

My career plans involve working as a chemical engineer, possibly in operations, process, quality or another aspect of the field. The experience I have as a student-athlete will help by giving me a strong foundation in time management as well as an edge in leadership, which will translate to success in the workplace.

Luke Lesizza, Class of 2026, information systems major
Men’s Lacrosse

I play defense for the Stevens Men’s Lacrosse team. I have been team captain for two years. For three years running, I earned spots on the All-MAC Freedom First Team and the MAC Freedom Honor Roll. For two years in a row, I earned recognition as MAC Freedom Defenseman of the Year and All-American. In addition, I serve as community service and philanthropy chair of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. I am a member of the Newman Catholic Club and helped start a fellowship of Christian athletes on campus as well.

The sense of community within the team is super strong. Being in Hoboken makes it possible to walk to anyone’s place whenever you need to. Most of us have an open-door approach so people are constantly stopping in, hanging out, getting food or just working out. My days are pretty full, with church, class and practice, but when I have free time, I’ll pop into a roommate’s room or visit a buddy to hang out for a bit. I like to get to know people. I ask my teammates and friends questions about everything from dinosaurs to Mexican food.

My teammates all support each other through everything. When we have struggles, we turn to the team first. You would be hard-pressed to find a guy who wouldn’t drop everything for another teammate. You might say we’re neuro-linked, and on the same page for each other.

My favorite team-related memory involved a trip to Virginia Beach. We needed to cross a long two-lane bridge over miles of ocean, but it was closed for the night due to high winds. We pulled into a parking lot to figure out what to do next. The lot we picked already had two other buses in it – with women's lacrosse teams also needing to cross the bridge! Luckily, there was plenty of food to share, and some speakers. We ended up having a really fun kickback with awesome people. When we finally got our hotel figured out, we were packed into rooms like sardines, but we were grateful to have a room in the first place. We watched movies, played games and enjoyed time with our best friends. It was one of the most fun weeks of my life.

Everything worth doing is worth enjoying. If you’re going out to eat with your friends, get off your phone and have a good time. If you’re going to lift weights, give it your all like you won’t ever be able to again. In every game, sacrifice yourself for those around you, knowing that they would do the same for you. I am incredibly grateful for every second I get to be a student-athlete at Stevens. The community embraces and supports you, and we have a great time.