The Anne Arundel Community College softball team joined their new coach, Renee Ferguson for a day of community service and teambuilding on Sat. Feb. 16, 2013 when they volunteered for Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. The organization utilizes volunteers to help build affordable homes in the Chesapeake Bay area, which are sold at no profit through no-interest loans to the qualified homebuyers who work alongside the volunteers.

Coach Ferguson saw this as an opportunity for her new team to get to know one another off the field saying, "Habitat for Humanity’s volunteer program is a great way for teams of all kinds to come together and see what they can accomplish by working together.  The ladies and I not only gained usable skills for the future, we gained greater insight into each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and that will surely benefit us on the field this season."

Eight Pioneers were trained in framing skills then went to work helping to rough-in the basement of a home in the Orchard Ridge Community in Baltimore, Md.  They learned to operate a table saw, toe-nail studs, and how to make the walls flush and level.  Returning sophomore Shelby Smith, a Glen Burnie High graduate said, "It was a great team bonding experience and a productive way to help people.  I would gladly do it again."  Kasey McDowell, an incoming freshman from Broadneck High added, "It was a very rewarding experience.  I felt like the team was truly making a difference to a family in need."  The team was allowed to leave well-wishes in “stud graffiti” for the new homeowners to find at a later time. 

The team’s first game is their home opener on Mar. 2 when they take on the Delaware Technical and Community College- Georgetown “Roadrunners” in a doubleheader starting at noon at the field on the Arnold Campus.

For the second consecutive year Lacrosse Magazine has featured a Pioneer women's lacrosse player as the Preseason Player of the Year!

Midfielder Meghenn Jackson led the nation in 2012 scoring 91 goals in her freshman season, and with 21 assists she was second in the nation with 112 total points (goals plus assists). She was edged out of the top-spot by teammate Mary Milligan who had 115 points with 81 goals, and 34 assists. Milligan was the 2012 Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Player of the Year.

Jackson is a two-sport NJCAA All-American earning first team honors as a freshman in lacrosse, and in her sophomore season as a transfer student in soccer.

Lacrosse Magazine ranked the Pioneer team as third to start 2013.

2012-09-28

Anne Arundel Community College has won the Dr. Jack Cistriano Sportsmanship Award, presented annually by the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference to the member school whose teams have demonstrated the best sportsmanship in the academic year. The winner is chosen by vote of the conference member school's representatives.  Anne Arundel won the award in 2002-03, 2005-06, 2006-07, and now again in 2011-12. 

Jack Cistriano, considered a founding father of the conference, is a former coach and Director of Athletics at Chesapeake College. He served more than 30 years in intercollegiate athletics, and was the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XX Director from 1976 until 2004.

Past Winners:

2011-12 - Anne Arundel Community College
2010-11 - Cecil College
2009-10 - Prince George's Community College
2008-09 - College of Southern Maryland
2007-08 - Prince George's Community College
2006-07 - Anne Arundel Community College
2005-06 - Anne Arundel Community College
2004-05 - Prince George's Community College
2003-04 - Allegany College of Maryland
2002-03 - Anne Arundel Community College
2001-02 - Frederick Community College
2000-01 - Prince George's Community College

Anne Arundel Community College has announced hiring Dave Earl to lead the Pioneers Men’s Lacrosse Team.

 “We are looking forward to the energy and enthusiasm that Dave Earl will bring to our men’s lacrosse program,” said Bruce Springer, coordinator of athletics at AACC.

 Earl has been the head coach of St. Mary’s High School’s junior varsity lacrosse since 2010, compiling a 39-7 record and leading the team to a MIAA A Championship in 2010. He also was a former coach and talent evaluator for the Annapolis Hawks Lacrosse Club, 2008-2009. He played both midfield and attack positions while in college at Hofstra and Salisbury University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

 Matt Hogan, assistant principal at St. Mary’s High School who coached lacrosse with Earl at the school, felt this selection would be good for AACC. “Coach Earl has been an asset to the St. Mary’s lacrosse program and in the individual player and team development. He is an outstanding teacher, loves the players and works hard to continue to develop himself and those around him. He will be great for AACC.”

 Earl was appreciative of the trust AACC placed in him to lead the team this year. “My family and I are thrilled to begin this new chapter in our life and become part of the AACC community. I am excited to get on the field this fall and meet our players,” he said. “We have begun the process of planning for fall ball and our off-season strength-and-conditioning program. In addition, we have started recruiting players for this year and for next.”

Pioneer News
AACC women's lacrosse coach Jim Griffiths  was honored on August 4, 2012 at the Annapolis Touchdown Club awards ceremony as the Hero's Lacrosse "Man of the Year."

Griffith's has coached women's lacrosse since 2004 compiling a 126-25 record with seven conference titles, and as many national appearances. His teams won two national championships, and took the runner-up trophy three times.

The teams have led the nation academically as well winning the NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Award for the last four seasons, and forty three of his student-athletes have moved on to play lacrosse at four-year schools.

Griffiths is also an accomplished coach of the Pioneer women's soccer and cross country teams.