Northeastern University Athletics

Debra Sweeney (class of 1993) was Northeastern’s first ever two-time All-American earning second team honors in her sophomore season of 1990, and 1991 First Team All-American honors in 1991. She was a three-time Northeast Regional All-American from 1989-1991, also the first Husky to achieve that feat. 

Sweeney was named to the First Team All-North Atlantic Conference team for three straight years while garnering North Atlantic Player of the Year Honors in 1991, the first Husky to earn conference player of the year accolades. 

Sweeney began her playing career as a member of the Huskies’ 1988 Final Four team playing in all 22 games on the season en route to the Huskies’ third place national finish in head coach Cheryl Murtagh’s first year at the helm of the program, finishing the season with a 1-0 victory over Penn on their home turf. 

Her sophomore career in 1989 saw her greatest offensive achievement as she finished the season with eight goals and a then-school record 25 assists, a mark that still ranks second all-time in the Husky record books. Her junior season saw another three goals and seven assists added to her total while she rounded out her career on Huntington Ave. with a team leading nine goals and another 19 assists, once again a mark that ranks fourth all-time in the Husky record books.

With those 19 assists in her senior season Sweeney set school record with 53 assists, a mark that was broken by fellow Northeastern Hall of Famer Jen White six years later.  
 
In 1992, following the end of her illustrious Northeastern career, Sweeney was named Northeastern’s NCAA Woman of the Year for her outstanding athletic ability, academic excellence and dedication to community service.
  
Sweeney led the Huskies to an NCAA Tournament appearance in each of her four years at Northeastern and helped the Huskies to their first ever North Atlantic Conference Championship in the 1990 season with a 1-0 victory over Boston University.