River Hawks complete comeback vs. UMBC with 10-7 victory

Sean Tyrrell notched seven points (4g,3a), while Hunter Braun stopped another 20 shots

LOWELL, Mass. – Senior attackman Sean Tyrrell (Calgary, Alta.) posted a career-high seven points and tied a career-high with four goals to propel the UMass Lowell Men's Lacrosse team to a 10-7 comeback win against UMBC in America East play on Saturday afternoon at Cushing Field Complex.

The River Hawks improve to 5-5 overall (2-1 AE) with the victory, while the Retrievers fall to 2-7 overall (0-2 AE) with the loss. With the victory the River Hawks established a new Division I record for single-season victories and earn their second victory in America East this season, which is also a new program record.

UMass Lowell tallied six unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to complete to comeback. Junior

River Hawks Recognized for Academic Success by NFHCA

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell field hockey team was honored for success in the classroom by the National Field Hockey Coaches' Association, as announced by the organization on Thursday.

"We are proud of our team's commitment to excellence in all areas, especially to academics," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk.

As a squad, the River Hawks received the 2017 ZAG Field Hockey/NFHCA Division I National Academic Team Award. The National Academic Team Award recognizes teams that achieved a minimum combined GPA of 3.0 during the first semester of the 2017-18 academic year. UMass Lowell was one of 74 teams across the country to be honored, as well as one of the eight America East field hockey affiliates to receive the title. This marks the sixth consecutive year that UMass Lowell has earned this academic recognition from the NFHCA.

Individually, 13 River Hawks were named to the 2017 ZAG/NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad. Seniors Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) and Fiona Fitzgerald (Lexington, Mass.) were recognized for the fourth the consecutive year. Classmate Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.), along with juniors Torrie Huk (Milford, Del.), Alex Loblundo (Acton, Mass.) and Allyssa Moser (Merztown, Pa.), sophomores Eva Berkhout (Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands), Tori Hannah (Plainsboro, N.J.), Alex Mondini (Cottekill, N.Y.), and freshmen Clara Defourt (Brussels, Belgium), Sophie Gehrels (Zeist, Utrecht, Netherlands), Anouk Lalande (Brussels, Belgium) and Kathleen Lynes (Oakville, Ontario) were also recognized.

Additionally, Federico was also honored as one of 139 NFHCA Scholars of Distinction this year.

"To have our team recognized, 13 individuals and a Scholar of Distinction is nothing short of amazing," added Hlebichuk. "These women continue to represent us at the highest level in the classroom."

The National Academic Squad includes all student-athletes with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or greater through the first semester of the 2017-18 academic year. In total, over 960 student-athletes from 79 Division I institutions received the honor. The Scholar of Distinction recognition is reserved for those who achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or greater as of the fall semester.

River Hawks Add Seven Newcomers for 2018

LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Field Hockey Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk has added seven newcomers to her squad for the 2018 season, as announced on Wednesday.
 
The River Hawks will welcome Jenna Berger (Waterloo, Ontario), Rose Cuozzo (Wilmington, Mass.), Grace Davis (Waterloo, Ontario), Kailey Donaldson (Newport News, Va.), Hannah Keefe (Westford, Mass.), Lindsey Kilpatrick (Manlius, N.Y.) and Taryn MacKinnon (Plaistow, N.H.).
 
"We are very excited for the 2018 incoming class," said Hlebichuk. "They are geographically diverse and all have great experiences playing at high levels with their individual club programs. Collectively, they will bring a great energy, tremendous talent and most importantly a great work ethic to the UMass Lowell field hockey program. Great things are expected from all of them over the course of their four years at UMass Lowell."
 
RIVER HAWK FIELD HOCKEY PLAYER PROFILES
 
Name: Jenna Berger
Hometown/High School: Waterloo, Ontario/St. David Catholic
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-2
Club Team: A&C Field Hockey Academy
Major: Education
 
Highlights: Four-year field hockey team member St. David … two-time team captain … three-time District 8 leading scorer … two-time District 8 All-Star … led her team to a league silver medal as a senior … named the D8 Field Hockey MVP as a junior … helped Team Ontario win bronze … U18 National Indoor Team … also participated in ice hockey, and track and field.
 
Personal: Daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Berger … has one brother (Hayden) … enjoys rock climbing, listening to music and running in her free time … includes The 100 and Riverdale among her favorite TV shows … names the Pittsburgh Penguins as her favorite professional sports team … lists her brother and Meghan Pittaway as her favorite sports influences … chose UMass Lowell because of how welcoming the coaches and team were, and the great connection she felt … majoring in education.
 
Name: Rose Cuozzo
Hometown/High School: Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-8
Club Team: Northeast Elite
Major: Undeclared
 
Highlights: Four-year varsity team member at Wilmington … two-time League All-Star … two-time Shooting Stars Thanksgiving Champions … named Team MVP as a junior … All-America Second Team honoree as a sophomore … participated in the Junior Olympics in Houston, Texas as a sophomore … also played lacrosse, ice hockey and softball.
 
Personal: Daughter of Marino Cuozzo and Gina Martiniello … has one younger brother (Anthony) … mother played field hockey and ice hockey at Providence College … enjoys spending her free time outdoors … lists Vampire Diaries and One Tree Hill as her favorite TV shows … names the Boston Bruins and New England Patriots as her favorite professional sports teams, and Jackir Briggs as her favorite sports figure … chose UMass Lowell because it is close to home, and has the right academic and athletic programs for her … has yet to declare a major.
 
Name: Grace Davis
Hometown/High School: Waterloo, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic Secondary 
Position: Forward
Height: 5-5
Club Team: GOA Reds FHC
Major: Exercise Physiology
 
Highlights: Four-time District 8 Champion at Resurrection Catholic … senior captain … won the 2017 U18 and 2016 U16 National Championship with Team Ontario … two-time invitee to Talent ID Camp with Canadian Women's National Field Hockey Team … 2016 CWOSSA Regional and OFSAA Provincial Silver Medalist … 2016 Ontario Summer Games Gold Medalist … two-time CWOSSA Regional and OFSAA Provincial Champion … also played ice hockey, and ran track and field … Honor Roll student.
 
Personal: Daughter of Scott and Carrie-Anne Davis … has one younger sibling (Avery) … spends her free time working out, listening to music and hanging out with friends … lists Grey's Anatomy and The Fosters as her favorite TV shows … favorite professional sports teams include the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Blue Jays … chose UMass Lowell because it was a great opportunity for her to pursue her studies and play for a field hockey program that made her feel right at home … majoring in exercise physiology.
 
Name: Kailey Donaldson
Hometown/High School: Newport News, Va./Warwick
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-3
Club Team: Focus Field Hockey
Major: Criminal Justice
 
Highlights: Four-year varsity team member at Warwick … senior captain … logged 128 saves and nine shutouts as a senior … 2017 All-District First Team selection … All-Region Honorable Mention … team MVP … named to the 2017 USAFH National Futures Championship Team … helped lead her team to the second round of the conference tournament as a junior and sophomore … member of the National Honor Society and the Science Honor Society.
 
Personal: Daughter of Devoe and Joann Donaldson … has two younger siblings (Raiden and Klaire) … enjoys writing and playing video games in her free time … favorite TV shows include Designated Survivor and Chicago P.D. … lists the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals as her favorite professional sports teams … Henrik Lundqvist is her favorite sports figure … chose UMass Lowell for its beautiful campus and great field hockey program … majoring in criminal justice.
 
Name: Hannah Keefe
Hometown/High School: Westford, Mass./Westford Academy
Position: Forward
Height: 5-4
Club Team: Bedford Wizards
Major: Mechanical Engineering
 
Highlights: Played field hockey for four years at Westford Academy … two-time team captain … led her team in scoring as a senior … 2017 Dual County League All-Star … also played ice hockey … two-time Dual County League All-Star for ice hockey … U16 Girls Hockey National Bronze Medalist as a junior … Lowell Sun Ice Hockey All-Star as a sophomore.
 
Personal: Daughter of Brian and Paula Keefe … has one older brother (Adam) … hobbies include playing the ukulele … lists Law and Order SVU and Grey's Anatomy as her favorite TV shows … the Boston Bruins and the New England Patriots are her favorite professional sports teams … names Patrice Bergeron and Mellissa Gonzalez as her favorite sports figures … chose UMass Lowell because the combination of great academics and athletics made it the right fit for her … majoring in mechanical engineering.
 
Name: Lindsey Kilpatrick
Hometown/High School: Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius 
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-6
Club Team: Syracuse Field Hockey Club
Major: Mathematics
 
Highlights: Team member at Fayetteville-Manlius … senior captain … two-time First-Team All-League selection … three-time Scholar-Athlete … logged 11 goals and eight assists as a senior … selected for the USAFH National Futures Championship Team in 2017 … totaled six goals and two assists as a junior, leading her team to a Sectional Final Appearance … 2015 League and Section Champions with a Regional Final appearance … member of the National Honor Society and the Science Honor Society.
 
Personal: Daughter of Tim and Kelly Kilpatrick … has two older siblings (Brenna and Christian) … enjoys coaching … lists Parks and Recreation, Big Brother and How I met Your Mother as her favorite TV shows … names the New York Knicks and USA Field Hockey as her favorite professional sports teams … includes Kristaps Porzingis, Melissa Gonzalez and Conor McGregor among her favorite sports figures … chose UMass Lowell because she saw it as the perfect combination of athletics and academics, and a challenging environment … majoring in mathematics.
 
Name: Taryn MacKinnon
Hometown/High School: Plaistow, N.H./Timberlane Regional
Position: Back
Height: 5-7
Club Team: Seacoast United
Major: Education
 
Highlights: Four-year team member at Timberlane … senior captain … two-time All-State honoree … named Division I Player of the Year and team MVP, as she helped lead her team to the State Championship … 2017 Max Field Hockey All-New England Team … Eagle Tribune Field Hockey All-Star … NFHCA Northern New England Region Team … also led her team to the state title as a junior … 2016 Defensive Player of the Year … Honor Roll student … member of the National Honor Society and the Math Honor Society.
 
Personal: Daughter of Shawn Mackinnon and Melissa O'Connor … has five siblings … lists coaching as one of her favorite hobbies … names Aaron Rogers as her favorite sports figure and the Green Bay Packers as her favorite professional sports team … chose UMass Lowell because she is hoping to make a positive impact on a competitive program … majoring in education.

River Hawks’ Bats Come Alive in Sweep at Rhode Island

Photo is courtesy of UMass Lowell

KINGSTON, R.I. – Junior Alyssa Hasbrouck (Middletown, N.Y.) and freshman Sydney Barker (Upland, Calif.) each totaled four RBI to lead the UMass Lowell softball team (7-30) to a pair of wins at Rhode Island (11-20) on Thursday afternoon.

The River Hawks picked up an 8-2 victory in game one before recording a season-best 16 hits in an 11-7 win in game two.

"We did great all around today," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "We had a lot of great at-bats, all the way from the first game through the last game. Even when we were behind, we continued to have quality at-bats and that's something we have worked on. I think we are in a good place rolling into this weekend against Stony Brook."

Barker finished the day with a team-high four hits (.500), including her first career home run.

River Hawks Power Past Dartmouth, 11-6

Photo is courtesy of UMass Lowell

HANOVER, N.H. – For the first time since 2014 the UMass Lowell (14-14) baseball team hit three home runs in a game, as the River Hawks topped Dartmouth College (9-18), 11-6, in non-conference action at Biondi Park. 

Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) connected on his seventh career homer in the third inning, a three-run bomb to dead center. Two batters later, Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) hit a line drive just over the wall in right for his first career long ball. Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) sent a two-run blast to right in the fifth inning. 

Mark Tumosa (Willington, Conn.) got the afternoon started for the River Hawks with a two-out RBI

River Hawks Walk-Off 8-7, Take Series Against Binghamton

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell (13-14, 3-6) baseball team overcame a 6-0 deficit in the fifth inning to top the Binghamton Bearcats (11-17, 7-2), 8-7, with Michael Young (Chester, N.J.) completing the second consecutive walk-off win with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth, Sunday afternoon at LeLacheur Park.

Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.) started the ninth with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) moved Sharpe to third with a groundout, and on a 3-1 pitch Young sent a fly to short left field and Sharpe beat the tag for the win.

"These wins show tremendous character," said Head Coach Ken Harring. "We've been in enough

River Hawks Knock Off Delaware, 5-3, at Bob Hannah Invite

NEWARK, Del. – Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.) sparked a three-run seventh inning with a two RBI double to knot the score at 3-3, as the UMass Lowell (4-3) baseball team knocked off the Delaware Blue Hens (5-4), 5-3, on the final day of the Bob Hannah Invitational.

With the River Hawks trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Delaware elected to intentionally walk Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) and bring up Sharpe with two on and two out. After a wild pitch advanced Passatempo and Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) to second and third, the left fielder delivered a sent a double down the left field line.

"It was a good complete effort from everybody," said Head Coach Ken Harring. "We pitched well, hit when we needed to in the end and played really good defense. A couple of keys were Passtempo's home run and Brendan Shea's five strikeouts, which really set a good tempo. We kept on grinding and

No. 4 River Hawks claim inaugural Belpot Trophy against Brown

The game officially ends in a tie but Dylan Zink got the shootout clinching goal in the 3rd round

 BELFAST, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom -- Sophomore forward C.J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa) scored the extra attacker game-tying goal with 39 seconds left and junior defenseman Dylan Zink (Madison, Wis.) scored the only goal in the shootout to help the No. 4 ranked UMass Lowell Hockey team capture the inaugural Belpot Trophy in the 5-5 tie against Brown at SSE Arena on Saturday night in the "Friendship Four" Championship Game.

The River Hawks now own a 10-1-4 record, while Brown moves to 2-4-3 overall.

Smith scored two goals on the night, added one assist and registered a game-high eight shots on goal

River Hawks Hand Stony Brook 2-0 Defeat

Lowell, Mass. – Two goals within a nine-minute span propelled the UMass Lowell (7-5-0, 2-1-0) men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory against the Stony Brook Seawolves (4-6-2, 1-2-0), Wednesday night at Cushing Field.

The decision marked the third time this season that the River Hawks have won two consecutive games, and the second time they have won back-to-back games by shutout in the program's Division I era.

"The guys came out sharp and disciplined," said Head Coach Christian Figueroa. "We've had a game plan all season and we've been preaching to go out and execute and I think the guys were much more focused today than they had been in the last few weeks. To come out here and get the win with the shutout is huge for us this time of season."

Jay Marchand (North Andover, Mass.) gave the hosts the 1-0 lead in the 39th minute, after putting

Fernandes, River Hawks Best Binghamton 1-0

VESTAL, N.Y. – Junior Wuilito Fernandes (Praia, Cape Verde) scored his third game-winning goal of the season in the 79th minute, to lead the UMass Lowell men's soccer team (6-5-0, 1-1-0) to a 1-0 victory against Binghamton (6-5-1, 1-1-0), Saturday night.

"I'm very pleased with the performance our guys put together tonight," said Head Coach Christian Figueroa. "Binghamton is a tough team to play against on the road, so we knew it would take a lot of focus to come out with a result. Our back line was outstanding tonight, and Austin's save to keep the score even in the second half was just as important as Wuilito's goal."

Jay Marchand (North Andover, Mass.) sent a through ball from midfield, with Fernandes gaining

River Hawks Extend Radio Deal with ESPN NH and WCAP

LOWELL, Massachusetts – The UMass Lowell Athletic Department, ESPN New Hampshire and Lowell radio station WCAP (980AM) have announced an agreement extending their partnership to broadcast River Hawk hockey, men's basketball and select women's basketball games on the radio during the upcoming 2015-16 season.

"UMass Lowell is pleased to continue its partnership with ESPN NH and WCAP radio," said Director of Athletics Dana Skinner. "Having River Hawk hockey and basketball games on the airwaves in the region has helped us communicate the many benefits of our programs, and we're grateful that our friends at ESPN and WCAP share that vision."

ESPN 900 AM, which is based in Nashua, will serve as the flagship station of the River Hawk

River Hawks Face Hard-Fought, 4-3 Setback against Maine in OT

LOWELL, Massachusetts – Junior Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) scored late in the first to give the UMass Lowell field hockey team (5-5, 0-2) a two-goal lead at halftime, although the squad would eventually fall, 4-3, in overtime against America East Conference opponent Maine (10-2, 1-0) on Friday night.

"I thought overall it was a fantastic America East competition," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "I was very happy with how we played in the first half, but we let them back into it in the second half, which seems to be a reoccurring theme with us, so we need to figure out those second-half details."

With tonight's goal, Cowderoy now leads her squad with 12 points on the year. Sophomore Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.) and senior Jenna Freitas (Manchester, N.H.) each tallied a goal in the outing, as well. Sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) made four stops in 79:06 for the complete-game decision.

The River Hawks were first to attack, getting on the board less than three minutes into play, as Doiron gained control of a loose ball during a scramble in front of the cage before slotting it through the opposing keeper's pads to give the home squad an early, 1-0 edge.

UMass Lowell continued to control the momentum with three corner chances in the next 15 minutes, but Maine would knot the score at 1-1 when Casey Crowley lifted a follow-up attempt into the back of the net with 13:38 remaining in the first half.

The stalemate was short-lived, though, thanks to a deflection on goal by Freitas off of a pass by senior Jessica Walsh (North Easton, Mass.), putting the River Hawks back on top, 2-1, at 8:13. Cowderoy then added a goal of her own, breaking into the circle alone and beating the Black Bears' goalkeeper before tapping the ball into the empty net, making the score 3-1 in favor of the home squad at the half.

Following the break, the River Hawks outshot the Black Bears, 3-1, in the first 18 minutes of the second. However, Maine's Crowley would cut the deficit to just one on a shot into the right corner with 16:14 left to play before Katie Bingle converted on a corner less than six minutes later to score the equalizer and force overtime.

The teams battled for control in the extra period, combining for seven shots. The difference-maker came off the stick of Danielle Aviani, who dribbled into the circle alone and lifted a chip shot over the outstretched stick of Federico to seal the 4-3 outcome.

Friday's contest marked the eighth meeting between UMass Lowell and Maine in the sport of field hockey. The Black Bears now lead the all-time series, 6-1-1. The River Hawks are slated to travel to Vermont on Sunday, October 4 for a 1 p.m. tilt to kick off a three-game road swing.