LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Women's Soccer Head Coach
Francesco D'Agostino announced the addition of nine newcomers to his squad for the 2017 season.
"We are extremely excited for the freshmen coming in," said D'Agostino. "It was a bit of a situation where we didn't have a ton of time to recruit as much as we wanted, but Mira [Novak] did a good job of reaching out to some Canadian contacts. Coming in,
Karah Fleet is going to help us. I think that
Kristin Birgisdottir, our Icelandic National Team player, will be a big help for us up front and playing on the wing, but all of the new players are going to really make a splash and I think we are going to be a good, all-around team this year."
The 2017 incoming class hails from three different states and three different countries.
The River Hawks are elated to welcome
Kayla Wentworth (Taunton, Mass.),
Olivia Crema (Litchfield, Mass.),
Giulia Rabbito (Chelmsford, Mass.),
Katherine Blackshaw (North Andover, Mass.),
Veronica Morrier (Plaistow, N.H.),
Abigail Drezek (Cumberland, R.I.),
Karah Fleet (Halifax, Canada),
Kristin Birgisdottir (Mosfellsbaer, Iceland), and
Rachel Chase (Bedford, Mass.), and
Brynja Palmadottir (Garour, Iceland).
D'Agostino's class features three transfers and seven rookies that will have an immediate impact on the team.
"We are setting a new standard with this program: a higher level both on and off the field," explained D'Agostino. "Training will be intense and organized, communication with each other will be a priority, and our style of play is going to change. The more top-quality players that we can bring in from around the world and domestically, the better culture we will have here and the closer we will get towards our goal."
RIVER HAWK WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER PROFILES
Name: Kayla Wentworth
Hometown/High School: Taunton, Mass./Taunton/Iona College
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5'6
High School/Previous School: Competed in soccer her freshman year at Iona College where she played in two games … allowed five goals and made two saves … competed in soccer at Taunton High School where she started on the varsity squad every year … compiled over 900 saves and nine shutouts in her career … helped lead team to playoffs for the first tie in school history her senior year … named captain her junior and senior year … named team MVP junior and senior year … three-time Hockomock All-Star … three-year First-Team All-Scholastic … Rookie of the Year her freshman year … competed for her club team FC Boston Scorpions.
Personal: Daughter of Denise and Scott Wentworth of East Taunton, Mass. … has an older brother (Cory) … lists foing for long walks and going to New York City as some facorite hobbies … lists her favorite professional sports teams as the Patriots and Bruins … describes her greatest sports moment as when she made a tip save over the cross-bar in the last five minutes to seal a 3-2 victory in her senior year that sent her team to the playoffs for the first time in school history … plans to major in psychology and minor in education.
Why UMass Lowell: "I wanted to be closer to home, so I chose a school with great academic prowess and a soccer program I felt like I could see myself in."
Name: Olivia Crema
Hometown/High School: Litchfield, Mass./Campbell/Sacred Heart
Position: Midfield
Height: 5'4
High School/Previous School: Competed in soccer her freshman year at Sacred Heart where she played in 17 games … scored one goal and assisted on three others … named captain in her senior year … played for her club team Stars of Massachusetts.
Personal: Daughter of Julie and Michael Crema of Litchfield, Mass. … has an older sister (Sydeny) and a younger brother (Jonah) … her sister plays collegiately at Southern New Hampshire University … lists her favorite professional sports teams as Liverpool FC and Manchester City … plans to major in Psychology.
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because of the program that is in place, the team and the coaching staff."
Name: Veronica Morrier
Hometown/High School: Plaistow, N.H./Timberlane Regional
Position: Midfield
Height: 5'3
High School: Played soccer all four years at Timberlane Regional … won State Championship all four years … qualified for nationals her senior year … went to nationals her freshman year … played for her club team Seacoast United Soccer Club.
Personal: Daughter of Kimberly and Daniel Morrier of Plaistow, N.H. … has two older siblings (Luke and Rachel) and four younger siblings (Jake, Max, Leah and Mia) … sister Rachel is a junior on the soccer team … lists her favorite professional sports team as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as her favorite sports figure … lists her greatest sports moment as when she scored a goal to tie the game against their rival in their annual match … plans to major in nursing and minor in Spanish.
Why UMass Lowell: "I wished to play Division I soccer as well as go to a school with an outstanding nursing program. UMass Lowell was the right fit for me."
Name: Abigail Drezek
Hometown/High School: Cumberland, R.I./Cumberland
Position: Defender
Height: 5'3
High School: Played soccer all four years at Cumberland … was named to the All-Division team for soccer and track in her sophomore, junior and senior years … named All-State First Team in soccer her junior and senior year … named to All-Tournament Team her junior year … named All-State Second team her sophomore year … was the Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman … competed for her club team Bayside F.C. … competed in basketball and ran track at Cumberland.
Personal: Daughter of Bonnie and Frank Drezek of Cumberland, R.I. … has two brothers (Ben and Jacob) … Ben will be running for the UMass Lowell Cross Country and Track and Field teams … lists her favorite professional sports team as Chelsea FC and Bayern Munich … lists her greatest sports figure as Carli Lloyd … lists her greatest sports moment as when she scored the winning goal in the State Cup Finals … plans to major in exercise physiology.
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because of the great academic program and athletic staff."
Name: Giulia Rabbito
Hometown/High School: Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford
Position: Forward
Height: 5'5
High School: Played soccer all four years at Chelmsford … named to the All-Conference Team her junior and senior year … Eastern Mass All-Star her junior and senior year … named MVP of her soccer team in her junior and senior year … captain of the varsity squad her senior year … played for F.C. Stars club team … competed in basketball and ran track at Chelmsford.
Personal: Daughter of Seana and Antonio Rabbito of Chelmsford, Mass. … has one older brother (Matthew) … enjoys reading and watching Grey's Anatomy, Chelsea, Million Dollar Listing and Master Chef … favorite professional sports teams are the Boston Red Sox and Patriots … lists her greatest sports moment as when her team defeated Acton-Boxborough who was undefeated … can speak some Italian … plans to major in business administration and minor in finance.
Why UMass Lowell: "It felt like home after the first camp I attended. I knew I wanted to stay close to home and I loved the school, and I just felt like I fit in right from the start."
Name: Karah Fleet
Hometown/High School: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada/Citadel
Position: Forward
Height: 5'9
High School: A five-sport athlete in high school (soccer, lacrosse, softball, track and field, and field hockey) … helped squad capture the Provincial Soccer title her sophomore year … was named as the soccer Rookie of the Year her sophomore year and twice named as the soccer MVP … twice named the track and field MVP … competed in the lacrosse nationals three times and soccer nationals once … graduated with honors.
Personal: Daughter of Keri Sampson and Thomas Fleet of Halifax, Nova Scotia … has three older siblings (Kailey, Lauren, and Hannah) and three younger siblings (Kirsten, Misha, and Noah) … father played football at Saint Mary's University and professionally for the Ottawa Rough Riders … lists FC Barcelona as favorite professional sports team … lists her greatest sports moment as winning the Provincial Championship … plans to major in nutritional science.
Why UMass Lowell: "The opportunity to play the sport I love at a high level with a great coaching staff, while still receiving a high quality education."
Name: Katherine Blackshaw
Hometown/High School: North Andover, Mass./North Andover
Position: Forward
Height: 5'7
High School: Three-year varsity soccer team member … named captain of the North Andover team her senior year … led team to Merrimack Valley Conference title in both her senior and sophomore years … played for the Aztec Soccer Club.
Personal: Daughter of Sandra and Tom Blackshaw of North Andover, Mass. … enjoys hiking, going to the gym and beach, and traveling … lists U.S. Women's National Team as her favorite professional team … her greatest sports moment was when she scored the game winning goal off her first header in her sophomore to win the Merrimack Valley Conference … plans to major in nursing.
Why UMass Lowell: "The nursing program here is fantastic and is raved about by the nurses at Children's Hospital Boston. It's close to Boston so I will be able to do my clinicals at Boston hospitals. UMass Lowell also gave me the opportunity to stay close to home, so my parents will be able to come to my games."
Name: Kristin Birgisdottir
Hometown/High School: Mosfellsbaer, Iceland/Kvennaskolinn
Position: Forward
Height: 5'2
High School: Competed for her country on the U-17 and U-19 squads … competed for the 2017 Reykavik Cup where her team finished second … helped her team capture the Lengjan Cup (winter games) … competed on club teams throughout high school with Afturelding and Fylkir … was twice named the best women's soccer player in her hometown.
Personal: Daughter of Halldora Bjornsdottir and Birgir Thor Baldvinsson of Mosfellsbaer, Iceland … has an older brother (Kjartan) and two older sisters (Sigridur and Halldora) … both sisters played in the premier league in Iceland … sister Sigridur played on the U-17 and U-19 Icelandic National Teams … lists FC Barcelona as her favorite sports team … her greatest sports moment was playing in the finals of the Dana Cup International tournament in Denmark with her U-15 club team Afturelding … plans to major in psychology with a minor in public health.
Why UMass Lowell: "It was a great opportunity for me to continue my education, while also playing collegiate soccer at a respected university."
Name: Rachel Chase
Hometown/High School: Bedford, Mass./Bedford/LIU Brooklyn
Position: Defender
Height: 5'7
High School/Previous School: Competed her freshman year at LIU Brooklynn where she played in 12 games … competed on the varsity team at Bedford … played for her club team Boston Breakers FC.
Personal: Daughter of Kerry and Brian Chase of Bedford, Mass. … has an older sister (Alyssa) and a younger brother (Zachary) … lists Game of Thrones and Shameless as her favorite TV shows … lists her favorite professional sports team as the U.S. Women's National Team … lists her greatest sports moment as when her club team defeated East Meadow Soccer Club to qualify for ECNL nationals … plans to major in marketing and minor in communications.
Why UMass Lowell: "I love Massachusetts. I spent my life here and I missed it so I wanted to come back and UMass Lowell gives me many great opportunities on and off the field, as well as a chance to represent my home again."
Name: Brynja Palmadottir
Hometown/High School: Garour, Iceland/Fjolbrautaskoli Suournesja
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Height: 5'4
High School: Competed for her club team Keflavik throughout high school … was selected as the best midfielder over all age groups while at Keflavik … Keflavik competed in the First Division in Iceland … reached the semifinals while competing with Keflavik at the Costa Blanca Cup in Spain.
Personal: Daughter of Guorior S> Brynjarsdottir and Palmi Steinar Guomundsson of Garour, Iceland … has an older brother (Guomundur Jon) … lists Liverpool FC and FC Barcelona has her favorite professional sports teams … lists her greatest sports moment as when her club team won a game by a golden goal in the Norway Cup … plans to major in business administration and minor in criminal justice.
Why UMass Lowell: "UMass Lowell has great academic programs and the soccer program and coaching staff excited me. It will also be a challenge for me to live so far away from home."
