BUY TICKETS

LOWELL, Mass. – With UMass Lowell's four-year transition to Division I concluded, the University will host the Rise Up Celebration of Sport on Thursday, October 12^th to kickoff Homecoming weekend at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.  As part of the evenings ceremonies, Director of Athletics Dana Skinner has announced that the River Hawks will induct four new members into the UMass Lowell Athletics Hall of Fame.

The event will also feature live musical performances and exciting videos of the more iconic athletic moments in the University's history, moments which helped to elevate the athletic program to Division I. Dinner will begin the festivities at 6 p.m.

The inductees include the 2005 Div. II NCAA Championship Field Hockey team, forward Jeff Daw (Class of 1996; Carlisle, Ontario) of the men's ice hockey team, as well Ruben Sança (Class of 2010; Santa Maria, Cape Verde) and Jacqui Barrett (Class of 2010: Woburn, Mass.) from the Cross Country/Track and Field program.

Led by four senior starters in Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk's first-ever recruiting class, the River Hawks stunned 11-time champion Bloomsburg, 2-1, in double overtime to win the 2005 Division II National Championship, the first of two for the program. The team finished with a 20-3 overall record that season, including a 16-game win streak from September 10 through October 29, as well as a 15-1 mark in Northeast-10 Conference play to win the league's regular-season title. To celebrate the 10^th anniversary of their accomplishments, this UMass Lowell squad was inducted into the NE-10 Hall of Fame in 2015. The team boasted four NE-10 First-Team All-Conference selections, including Joanna DeLuze, who was also named the conference's Player of the Year. As a team, the 2005 River Hawks outscored their opponents. 68-27.

Daw played four seasons for the River Hawks (1992-96), recording 141 points (68g,73a) appearing in 157 career games. His 157 games played ranks third all-time in school history, while his 68 goals rank third  and his 141 points are fifth among Division I players.  He ranks 15^th all-time in both categories.  His teams' won 88 games in four years and made two NCAA tournament appearances, while advancing to the Hockey East semifinals each of his four seasons, to go along with three 20-win campaigns. Daw also served two seasons as team captain (94-95, 95-96).

Sança was a distance runner for the River Hawks from 2005 to 2010 and was a four-time All-American. He holds the school record in the 5,000 meters (indoor and outdoor) which were both set in 2010 and in 2006 was also a part of the record setting 4x800 meter relay team. He was a NCAA qualifier in four different years in a multitude of different events and was also a five-time All-New England selection. He also represented Cape Verde in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England.

Barrett was a thrower with the River Hawks from 2006-10 and was a NCAA National Champion in the shot put (outdoor) with a distance of 50' 8¼". She was also a two-time All-American, as well as a three-time All-New England performer. She was named NCAA East Region Indoor Field Athlete of the Year in 2010. She holds four Northeast-10 records in the shot put.

Individual tickets ($100) and tables ($1,000) for the event are available for purchase at Alumni.uml.edu/RiseUp.


What the inductees are saying....
"It is a true honor to be recognized as the first women's team at UMass Lowell to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. As a team, we learned invaluable lessons through the hard work, discipline, tenacity and heart that was poured into every practice and game. We started the 2005 season lined up on the track for a timed two mile and ended it with a winning National Championship pig pile, we gave it our all. Our team had something special, an amazing coaching staff and an undeniable bond and chemistry. Together we won a National Championship but the greatest takeaway were the friendships, laughs, and memories we shared as teammates."
COURTNEY HILL (2005 FIELD HOCKEY CAPTAIN)

"Having the 2005 Field Hockey team becoming the first women's team to be inducted into the University's Hall of Fame is unbelievable.  The women on the 2005 team did the unthinkable that year.  They surprised everyone including themselves and our coaching staff by beating the most successful team in Division II history.  I am proud of their accomplishments during that year, but more proud of the women they have become since they graduated.  We are excited to reunite at the Rise Up event and look forward to celebrating this amazing accomplishment.
(SHANNON HLEBICHUK (2005 FIELD HOCKEY HEAD COACH)

"I am truly honored to be inducted into the UMass Lowell Athletics Hall of Fame. UMass Lowell did not just give me an opportunity in hockey. It gave me the skills and confidence to succeed in life and business."
JEFF DAW (1992-1996; MEN'S ICE HOCKEY)

"It's a humble feeling for me to be selected along with Jeff Daw, Jacqui Barrett and the 2005 Women's Field Hockey Team to join a list of distinguished individuals who have shared the same passion for excellence in athletics.  Being a student-athlete at UMass Lowell opened so many doors for me. I'm forever grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Track & Field and Cross Country programs."
RUBEN SANÇA (2005-2010; MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK AND FIELD)

"I am so honored and excited to be selected into this year's Hall of Fame inductee class. This means so much to me because while I was an athlete at UMass Lowell it was always a dream and a goal of mine to get inducted. I worked extremely hard and stayed motivated and dedicated to win nationals, which solidified my induction. I'm happy that being inducted will also recognize Coach Barbara Smith for the amazing coaching that she does. Without Barbara as my coach, I would not have been able to achieve anything that I did which led me to this honor."
JACQUI BARRETT (2006-2010; WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD)