The Tri-State Conference kicks off in two weeks and we could once again see a new champion.
Two years ago RPI tok the conference, and while the Engineers made the playoffs this year, they weren't as strong and didn't quite pull off the repeat. Last fall, Sacred Heart rolled to a conference title, but, as with many teams, they have had to deal with some turnover.
William Paterson has to be itching to take them down, and the former DI team US Merchant Marina Academy, probably in its correct division now, will also challenge. But perhaps the team to watch closely is Siena, which finished 2nd to Sacred Heart in the Tri-State North. NJIT, which lost a playoff berth due to the use of an ineligible player, has some unfinished business.
Sacred Heart lost 12 starters to graduation, but will be strong in their top 15. Prop Joe Cutrone is possible the best prop in the conference and will be the captain. Connor McCutcheon is excellent at fullback and No. 8 Jack Connelly is a strong athlete. Sacred Heart Head Coach Ray Peterson is very high on flyhalf Ellis Badger, who stepped into the #10 role to fill in for an injury, and blossomed.
"Overall, we'll challenge," said Peterson. "If we can stay healthy, especially in the key positions, we could win it again. But it will be tougher than last year."
| Date | ||||
| 9/10/2017 | SUNY New Paltz | at | SUNY Oneonta | Tri-State Central |
| 9/10/2017 | Bard | at | SUNY Maritime | Tri-State Central |
| 9/10/2017 | Drew | at | Monroe | Tri-State Central |
| 9/10/2017 | Hartwick | at | Vassar | Tri-State Central |
| 9/17/2017 | Monroe | at | SUNY New Paltz | Tri-State Central |
| 9/17/2017 | Vassar | at | SUNY Maritime | Tri-State Central |
| 9/17/2017 | Hartwick | at | Hartwick | Tri-State Central |
| 9/17/2017 | Drew | at | Bard | Tri-State Central |
| 9/24/2017 | Bard | at | SUNY New Paltz | Tri-State Central |
| 9/24/2017 | SUNY Oneonta | at | Drew | Tri-State Central |
| 9/24/2017 | Hartwick | at | SUNY Maritime | Tri-State Central |
| 9/24/2017 | Vassar | at | Monroe | Tri-State Central |
| 10/1/2017 | SUNY New Paltz | at | Hartwick | Tri-State Central |
| 10/1/2017 | Monroe | at | Bard | Tri-State Central |
| 10/1/2017 | SUNY Maritime | at | SUNY Oneonta | Tri-State Central |
| 10/1/2017 | Drew | at | Vassar | Tri-State Central |
| 10/8/2017 | Bard | at | Vassar | Tri-State Central |
| 10/8/2017 | SUNY Maritime | at | SUNY New Paltz | Tri-State Central |
| 10/8/2017 | SUNY Oneonta | at | Monroe | Tri-State Central |
| 10/8/2017 | Hartwick | at | Drew | Tri-State Central |
| 10/15/2017 | Drew | at | SUNY New Paltz | Tri-State Central |
| 10/15/2017 | Bard | at | Hartwick | Tri-State Central |
| 10/15/2017 | Vassar | at | SUNY Oneonta | Tri-State Central |
| 10/15/2017 | Monroe | at | SUNY Maritime | Tri-State Central |
| 9/23/2017 | Hofstra | at | RPI | Tri-State North |
| 10/1/2017 | RPI | at | Marist | Tri-State North |
| 10/7/2017 | Hofstra | at | Union | Tri-State North |
| 10/7/2017 | RPI | at | Siena | Tri-State North |
| 10/8/2017 | Marist | at | Sacred Heart | Tri-State North |
| 10/14/2017 | Marist | at | Union | Tri-State North |
| 10/15/2017 | Sacred Heart | at | RPI | Tri-State North |
| 10/15/2017 | Siena | at | Hofstra | Tri-State North |
| 10/22/2017 | Sacred Heart | at | Sian | Tri-State North |
| 10/22/2017 | Hofstra | at | Marist | Tri-State North |
| 9/10/2017 | College of NJ | at | NJIT | Tri-State South |
| 9/10/2017 | Seton Hall | at | USMMA | Tri-State South |
| 9/10/2017 | Montclair State | at | Molloy | Tri-State South |
| 9/17/2017 | Seton Hall | at | Montclair State | Tri-State South |
| 9/17/2017 | NJIT | at | USMMA | Tri-State South |
| 9/17/2017 | William Paterson | at | College of NJ | Tri-State South |
| 9/24/2017 | Union | at | Sacred Heart | Tri-State South |
| 9/24/2017 | Siena | at | Marist | Tri-State South |
| 9/24/2017 | Montclair State | at | College of NJ | Tri-State South |
| 9/24/2017 | Molloy | at | William Paterson | Tri-State South |
| 9/24/2017 | NJIT | at | Seton Hall | Tri-State South |
| 9/30/2017 | Union | at | Siena | Tri-State South |
| 10/1/2017 | Sacred Heart | at | Hofstra | Tri-State South |
| 10/1/2017 | USMMA | at | Molloy | Tri-State South |
| 10/1/2017 | College of NJ | at | Seton Hall | Tri-State South |
| 10/1/2017 | William Paterson | at | NJIT | Tri-State South |
| 10/8/2017 | USMMA | at | William Paterson | Tri-State South |
| 10/8/2017 | NJIT | at | Montclair State | Tri-State South |
| 10/8/2017 | Molloy | at | Seton Hall | Tri-State South |
| 10/15/2017 | Molloy | at | NJIT | Tri-State South |
| 10/15/2017 | William Paterson | at | Montclair State | Tri-State South |
| 10/15/2017 | USMMA | at | College of NJ | Tri-State South |
| 10/21/2017 | Union | at | RPI | Tri-State South |
| 10/22/2017 | Seton Hall | at | William Paterson | Tri-State South |
| 10/22/2017 | College of NJ | at | Molloy | Tri-State South |
| 10/22/2017 | Montclair State | at | USMMA | Tri-State South |
