LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Women's Lacrosse Head Coach Carissa Medeiros announced the addition of five newcomers to join the River Hawks for the 2018 season.
 
The River Hawks welcome Samantha Aufiero (Wayne, Pa.), A'Kristionna King (Ft. Meade, Md.), Hannah Rose (Framingham, Mass.), Caitlin Sanborn (Chelmsford, Mass.), and Gabrielle Torain (Glen Burnie, Md.).
 
"We are excited to welcome this year's freshman class and look forward to them contributing early to the season," commented Medeiros. "This fall we are throwing a lot at them, but they are eager to learn and embracing the challenge."
 
RIVER HAWK WOMEN'S LACROSSE PALYER PROFILES
 
Name: Samantha Aufiero
Hometown/High School: Wayne, Pa./Conestoga
Position: Defender
Height: 5'2
Club Team: Ultimate Lacrosse
Major: Civil Engineering
 
High School: Played lacrosse and ran cross country at Conestoga High School … Member of 2017 undefeated team that won the Central League and Districts and made it to the state quarterfinals in senior campaign … Named team MVP, captain, and part of state championship team in junior campaign … Named captain in sophomore and freshman campaigns … Recipient of Principal's Award for Scholarship and Citizenship, Service and Leadership Award, and received distinguished honors in high school … Member of Peer Mediation team and member of F.L.I.T.E. at Conestoga.
 
Personal: Daughter of Frani and Frank Aufiero of Cesterbrook, Pa. … Has a younger sibling, Alex … Has a great uncle and aunt (Lew Tabackin and Toshiko Akyoshi) that are Grammy Award winning big band jazz musicians … Lists favorite professional sports teams as the Eagles and Flyers … Lists her greatest sports moment as winning the state championship in her junior year of high school.
 
Coach Medeiros on Aufiero: "She contributed to one of the best high school programs in the state of Pennsylvania and brings a strong defensive background with her to UMass Lowell."
 
Name: A'Kristionna King
Hometown/High School: Ft. Meade, Md./Meade
Position: Defender
Height: 5'4
Club Team: Maryland United
Major: Biology
 
High School: Three sport athlete at Meade High School (field hockey, basketball, lacrosse) … Named captain of lacrosse team in senior, junior, and freshman campaigns … Selected as an All-Star for the Maryland State Field Hockey All-Star team … Captain of basketball and field hockey teams in senior and junior campaigns … Recipient of Capital Gazette Teen of the Week, Capital Gazette Student Achievement Award, and National Coalition of 100 Black Women Student Achievement Award … Graduated as Valedictorian at Meade High School.
 
Personal: Daughter of Phyllis and Phillip King … Has six siblings (Akeila, Marcus, Kari, JR, Jeffrey, and Roman) … Lists Real Madrid and the Baltimore Orioles as her favorite professional sports teams … Lists Misty Copeland, Skylar Diggins, and Serena Williams as her favorite sports figures … Lists her greatest sports moment as when she scored the game-winning goal in overtime in her last high school lacrosse game … Her sister and herself speak fluent Pig Latin and she has been to 35/50 states in the U.S.
 
Coach Medeiros on King: "She is a tenacious defender with great instincts and vision. She relentlessly pursues the ball on defense and communicates effectively. She will no doubt be able to contribute early on to our defensive unit."
 
Name: Hannah Rose
Hometown/High School: Framingham, Mass./Framingham
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'3
Club Team: Baystate Bullets
Major: Undeclared Business
 
High School: Played lacrosse and swam at Framingham High School … Named MVP of her lacrosse team and a Boston Globe All Scholastic All-Star for the Baystate Conference in her senior campaign … Named captain in her senior and junior campaigns … Four-Time Female Athlete of the Year at Framingham High School … Was a volunteer soccer coach in high school.
 
Personal: Daughter of Mari and Paul Rose of Framingham, Mass. … Has an older sister named Maegan … Father played football and Maine Maritime Academy … Lists the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics as her favorite professional sports teams and Julian Edelman has her favorite sports figure … Lists her greatest sports moment as when she scored two goals in her first playoff game.
 
Coach Medeiros on Rose: "She is a strong middie with a high Lax IQ. She is a hardworking, natural athlete who will give 100% to this program. We expect her to come in strong and contribute to the program immediately."
 
Name: Caitlin Sanborn
Hometown/High School: Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford
Position: Attacker/Midfielder
Height: 5'5
Club Team: Mass Elite
Major: Nursing
 
High School: Three sport athlete at Chelmsford High School (lacrosse, field hockey, and indoor track) … Received the Award of Excellence in Lacrosse in her senior campaign … Named an MVC All-Star in senior and sophomore campaigns … Received the Chelmsford Youth Lacrosse Scholarship, High Honors and Honors at Chelmsford High School … Selected to the Careers in Healthcare Experience Program at Lowell General Hospital.
 
Personal: Daughter of Lisa and Jeff Sanborn of Chelmsford, Mass. … Has three siblings (Jeffrey, Micaela, and Jonathan) … Sister Micaela played lacrosse at UMass Lowell … Lists the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics as her favorite professional sports teams and Tom Brady as her favorite sports figures … lists her greatest sports moment as playing in the state championship games.
 
Coach Medeiros on Sanborn: "She is a versatile player who we are very excited to coach. She possesses a lot of untapped potential that we look forward to helping her realize."
 
Name: Gabrielle Torain
Hometown/High School: Glen Burnie, Md./Severn School
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'1
Club Team: Maryland United
Major: Plastics Engineering
 
High School: Played lacrosse and sailed at Severn School … High school team made it to the semi-finals in her junior campaign … Club team won a tournament in her sophomore campaign … School won an indoor league with an all-freshman team in freshman campaing … Member of National Honors Society, Spirit Captain, and Dance Company at Severn School.
 
Personal: Daughter of Grace Prince-Torain and Gregory Torain of Glen Burnie, Md. … Has three siblings (Greyson, Giselle, and Giuliana) … Brother plays lacrosse at the Naval Academy … Nickname is Gabby … Lists her greatest sports moment as scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime of a rainy day in her senior year.
 
Coach Medeiros on Torain: "She is a naturally quick and explosive athlete who has a knack for winning 50/50 balls. Gabby is going to be one of those kids who gets exponentially better every day and will come out of nowhere to make a huge impact on our team."