Nov. 22, 2011

Undaunted by the inclement weather and power outages, the UMass Lowell softball team collected an estimated 500 pounds of canned goods on Halloween in its third annual `Trick-or-Canning' event to benefit the Merrimack Valley Food Bank.

The successful endeavor, which head coach Sean Cotter started during his coaching tenure at Plattsburgh State, was carried out despite the Nor'easter that dimmed the region shortly before Halloween.

"It was a great effort," Cotter said. "Certainly the generosity from people even without power was outstanding. Because of them we were able to help feed a lot of people."

A week prior to Halloween, members of the UMass Lowell softball team distributed flyers throughout neighborhoods in Burlington, Billerica and Tewksbury, announcing the Halloween collection for the Merrimack Valley Food Bank.

On Halloween, the softball players returned to those neighborhoods to solicit canned goods door to door.

"There was a little bit of a drop off last year from the power outages, but we were still able to collect a lot of cans," said senior shortstop Meagan Guy (Berlin, Conn.).

While most of the members of the softball team concentrated on the `Trick-or-Canning' project, others accompanied 2011-12 honorary teammate Sicilia Campbell (6) trick-or-treating in her Chelmsford neighborhood.

Campbell, who overcame leukemia, was named UMass Lowell's honorary teammate in September and will take part in practices, clinics and game preparation through the season.

The softball team capped its fall season on Oct. 22 and opens its spring season Feb. 24-25 at the Catawba College Tournament in Catawba, N.C.