MANCHESTER, N.H. – After eight years and seven seasons,
Joel Bancroft has announced he is stepping down as head coach of the Saint Anselm College women's soccer team, effective immediately.
"We would like to thank Coach Bancroft for seven seasons of dedication and leadership that elevated our women's soccer program to new heights," said Interim Director of Athletics
Phil Rowe. "Your record-breaking achievements and commitment to excellence have left an indelible mark on Saint Anselm Athletics. Best wishes on your future endeavors, and may your next chapter be as successful as your tenure here."
In seven seasons at the helm of the Hawks women's soccer program, Bancroft compiled an overall record of 54-41-29 (.552), including a 36-32-19 mark (.523) in Northeast-10 Conference (NE10) play. His 54 career head coaching victories at Saint Anselm are the third-most in program history and just two shy of former Hawks head coach and current assistant,
Heather Doucette.
Bancroft, who came to the Hilltop in 2017, led Saint Anselm to the NE10 postseason five times and took the Hawks to a pair of NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championships. His teams posted above .500 records in all but one season, which came in his first year in Manchester. That included a pair of 10-win campaigns in 2021 and 2022, which saw the Hawks reach the NE10 Semifinals in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1994 and 1995. Prior to those postseason runs, the Hawks had not won a postseason game since 2006.
Also in 2021, Saint Anselm earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. The following season, the Hawks received another at-large bid and made their second consecutive NCAA postseason appearance.
During his tenure at Saint Anselm, Bancroft guided the Hawks to a consistent position in the NCAA Division II East Region rankings. He also helped the program climb to as high as #23 in the United Soccer Coaches Division II national poll in 2023. It was the program's highest national ranking since 1997 and its first ranking overall since 1998.
Last fall (2024), the Hawks finished the season 5-4-10 overall and 2-2-6 in the NE10, good for a sixth-place finish in the conference standings. In the NE10 Quarterfinals, Saint Anselm upset #3 seed and nationally ranked #13 Southern New Hampshire in penalty kicks, but fell in the Semifinals to #2 seed and nationally ranked #24 Franklin Pierce.
Bancroft coached 30 student-athletes to NE10 All-Conference recognition while at Saint Anselm. He came to the Hilltop after spending four seasons on the women's soccer coaching staff at UMass Lowell, including three as the program's head coach.
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