SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – American International College Head Women's Soccer Coach Sam Mitchell announced two additions to his staff on Tuesday, August 18, naming Bella Mendoza and Nina Cuccovia as Assistant Coaches ahead of the 2026 season.
"I'm incredibly excited to welcome Bella to our staff at AIC. Having had the opportunity to coach her during her playing career at UMass, I know firsthand the character, competitiveness, leadership, and soccer knowledge she will bring to our program…Bella knows the level we want to reach, and I know she will bring tremendous energy and passion to the training environment every day. I couldn't be more excited to work alongside her again and to see the impact she can have on our student-athletes and the continued growth of AIC Women's Soccer," Mitchell said of Mendoza.
"This new opportunity means a lot to me, both personally and professionally. I'm incredibly excited to continue growing as a coach and to learn under Sam again. Having the chance to work with him in a coaching capacity after having played under him at UMass makes this opportunity especially meaningful. I've learned so much from him as a player, and I'm excited to now learn from him in a completely different role and continue building my coaching career here at AIC…I'm looking forward to taking everything I've learned throughout my playing and coaching career and continuing to apply it to our program here at AIC. I'm excited for what's ahead and grateful to be surrounded by people who believe in me and are willing to help me become the best coach I can be," Mendoza said.
Mendoza served as an assistant coach and goalkeepers coach for the Merrimack College women's soccer program during the 2025 season after joining the staff in August 2025.
A former NCAA Division I student-athlete, Mendoza played five seasons at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst while earning her bachelor's degree in psychology. During her collegiate career, she was recognized as a five-time Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week and a two-time UMass Student-Athlete of the Week. She also ranks among the program's career leaders, finishing fifth in career shutouts with 20 and seventh in career saves with 270.
In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Mendoza works as a goalkeeper coach with the Boston Bolts, serving as the GA Aspire and DPL Goalkeeper Coach. In this role, she develops individualized goalkeeper sessions focused on technical growth, tactical awareness, and overall player development while collaborating with staff to create effective training environments.
"I'm delighted to welcome Nina to our staff as our new Graduate Assistant. I've had the privilege of knowing and coaching Nina for a long time, having coached her for four years during her youth career, so I know the character, work ethic, and competitive mentality she will bring to our program…I'm excited to have Nina begin the next chapter of her career with us at AIC, and I believe her familiarity with the conference, championship experience, and understanding of the standards we want to establish will make her a tremendous addition to our staff and student-athletes," Mitchell said of Cuccovia.
"This opportunity feels quite surreal and full circle. Growing up playing under Sam for five years and now getting to coach alongside him while getting to complete my master's degree is something I couldn't ask more for. Sam is one of the most knowledgeable soccer coaches I've met, so it's a pleasure to be able to work with him this coming season and grow this team to new heights," Cuccovia said.
Cuccovia played collegiately at Northeast 10 Conference rival Saint Anselm College. She made 38 starts on defense among her 53 games played, including a career-best 19 starts in 2024. The Hawks reached the NE10 Championship Tournament in each of her four seasons, culminating in a conference crown in 2025 as her team defeated Franklin Pierce University 4-3 in penalties after a 1-1 draw through 110 minutes. Saint Anselm made two NCAA Tournament appearances in her time on the Hilltop.
Beyond captaining an NE10 Champion, Cuccovia graduated from Saint Anselm with a degree in biology; she has worked with the Department of Developmental Services in her hometown of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, assisting individuals with disabilities with activities of daily living and facilitating recreational outings, social interaction, and independence as she seeks to become an occupational therapist.
