Field hockey player Vonde Saunders and men's golfer Michael Rich have been named University of New England Athletes of the Month for September 2017.

Saunders scored nine goals and assisted on four others in 10 games during the month. The senior from Center Conway, N.H. was named Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Offensive Player of the Week one time, following a three-game stretch with two goals (2-1 overtime win), two goals and two assists (8-0 win), and three goals (7-2 win). Along the way, Saunders became the UNE field hockey program career-leader for both goals scored and total points.

Rich, a junior from Boston, Mass., posted a scoring average of 76.16 over six rounds of tournament action. He finish alone in 2nd place (of 39) at the UMF Invitational with a career-best 73 (+3), and improved on that mark with 72 (+1) in the very next event, on the way to All-Maine honors at the two-day state championship. Rich then fired another 72 (+3) to share 1st place (of 30) at the UNE Invitational.

Other nominees for September included: Katie Beaudoin (women's soccer), Kassidy Towne (women's rugby), Angel Waters (women's cross country), and Donovan Duffy (men's cross country).