LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Field Hockey Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc has announced the addition of six incoming freshmen set to join her squad for the 2020 season, as well as one sophomore spring transfer.
 
"We are very excited about this incoming class," said LeBlanc. "They have a true passion for the sport and are all genuinely excited to be River Hawks. Individually, they all bring something unique with regards to their style of play, but as a group, they bring an energy about them they will certainly carry over onto the field."
 
The River Hawks will welcome newcomers Gianna Conte (Salisbury, Mass.), Alissia DeVries (Tha Hague, Netherlands), Mirthe Gans (Tiel, Netherlands), Natalie Rocuskie (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), Aurise Tattrie (Watertown, Mass.) and Sage Valente (Watertown, Conn.) in the fall, while sophomore transfer Lauren Brushingham (Syracuse, N.Y.) joined the squad this spring.
 
"This class is truly one of the most balanced classes by position we have had in a long time," LeBlanc added. "This balance will provide immediate impact, along with depth. 2020 looks to be an exciting year for UMass Lowell field hockey. We can't wait for this group to arrive on campus."
 
RIVER HAWK FIELD HOCKEY PLAYER PROFILES
 
Name: Lauren Brushingham
Hometown/High School: Syracuse, N.Y./C.W. Baker/Sacred Heart
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-5
Club Team: Syracuse Field Hockey Club
Major: Finance
 
At Sacred Heart University (2018-19): Appeared in 28 games through two years, starting seven.
 
High School: Four-year varsity team member at C.W. Baker High school … senior captain … three-time All-League … two-time Section and Regional Champion … helped lead her school to two Final Four Appearances … named All-State, All-CNY, and Outstanding Player of the Year as a senior … also ran Track and Field … finish with a GPA ranked in the school's top 13 … Honors Society member.
 
Personal: Daughter of Aaron and Nikol Brushingham … has one younger sibling (Emma) who plays field hockey at Wagner … enjoys shopping, working out and spending time with her family … lists The Bachelor and Bachelorette as her favorite TV shows ... names the Buffalo Bills as her favorite professional sports team … favorite sports figures are Jess Jecko and Alyssa Manley … chose UMass Lowell for the culture that makes up the field hockey program.
 
Name: Gianna Conte
Hometown/High School: Salisbury, Mass./Triton Regional
Position: Forward
Height: 5-6
Club Team: Seacoast United
Major: Criminal Justice
 
Highlights: Four-year varsity starter at Triton Regional … three-time Cape Ann League First Team All-Star … two-time Daily News MVP … participated in the Massachusetts Best of 60 field hockey game as a senior … helped lead her team to the D2 North Quarterfinals three times, and went to the Semifinals as a sophomore … also played ice hockey and lacrosse … member of the Leader Club and SADD Club.
 
Personal: Daughter of D.J and Cathie Conte… has one sibling (Joey) … father played ice hockey at Fitchburg State … enjoys going to the beach in the summer and spending her free time with family and friends … lists Impractical Jokers as her favorite TV show … names the New England Patriots as her favorite professional sports team … favorite sports figure is Tom Brady … chose UMass Lowell because she felt very comfortable visiting the campus and speaking with staff members, and everything just felt right.
 
Name: Alissia de Vries
Hometown/High School: The Hague, Netherlands/Sint Maartens College Voorburg
Position: Back
Height 5-6
Club: Ring Pass Delft
Major: Biomedical Engineering
 
Highlights: Ring Pass Delft U18 Playoffs, highest national youth league … qualified for Super A National Championship Semifinals … Ring Pass Delft U16 League Champions … Super B National Championship Runners-up … U18 French National Team member … competed in European Championship in Santander and selected for the European Championship in Zurich … participated at Olympiad Mathematics for 2017-18.
 
Personal: Daughter of Roger de Vries and Isabelle Corbin … has a twin brother (Maxime) … bilingual in French and Dutch … enjoys hanging out with friends and tutoring younger students … names the Dutch National Field Hockey Team as her favorite sports team … her favorite sports figure is Lidewij Welten … chose UMass Lowell because of the program's objectives, the coaches and the university offering the major she wants.
 
Name: Mirthe Gans
Hometown/High School: Tiel, Netherlands/VAVO Lyceum Utrecht
Position: Forward
Height 5-6
Club: NMHC Nijmegen
Major: Biology
 
Highlights: Member of NMHC Nijmegen U18 in Super A National League … member of NMHC Nijmegen U16 in the National League, the highest national youth league … four-time regional indoor hockey champion.
 
Personal: Daughter of Morris Gans and Monique Uijen … spends her free time skiing, hanging out with friends, rock climbing and enjoying good food … lists Soundtrack among her favorite TV shows … names the Dutch National Team as her favorite sports team … favorite sports figure is Bibian Mentel … chose UMass Lowell because she experienced a great connection with the team members and coaches.
 
Name: Natalie Rocuskie
Hometown/High School: Mechanicsburg, P.A/Cedar Cliff
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Club Team: Xcalibur
Major: Education
 
Highlights: Four-year varsity team member at Cedar Cliff … four-time Offensive Player of the Year … set school record for most career points,  finishing with 159 (69 goals and 21 assists) … two-time First Team Mid-Penn Divisional All-Star … Pennlive All-Star Honorable Mention as a senior … chosen to play in Under Armour Select Field Hockey Showcase as a junior … also played lacrosse.
 
Personal: Daughter of Scott and Tina Rocuskie…has one older sibling (Nathan) … father was a wrestler at Bucknell … enjoys shopping, trying new foods and playing with her dogs … lists Keeping Up with The Kardashians and The Office among her favorite TV shows … names the Pittsburgh Steelers as her favorite professional sports team … favorite sports figure is Mia Hamm … chose UMass Lowell because of the level of the academics and because she felt comfortable with the field hockey team.
 
Name: Aurise Tattrie
Hometown/High School: Watertown, Mass./Watertown
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-1
Club Team: Wizards
Major: Undeclared
 
Highlights: Four-year varsity team member at Watertown … senior captain … two-time MA Div. II State Champion … four-time Middlesex League Champions … two-time 16U National Future Champion … Middlesex All-Conference, All-Star and Co-MVP as a senior …  Best of 60 selection … named Boston Herald All-Scholastic and Boston Globe All-Scholastic her senior year, while helping team go 18-2-0 ... member of the Pride Committee Club.
 
Personal: Daughter of Chris Tattrie and Lauren Hegarty-Tattrie ... has one younger sibling (Daniel) … mother played field hockey at American and father played baseball at Bentley … enjoys spending time with her friends, hiking and traveling … names The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Big Little Lies as her favorite TV shows … lists the New England Patriots, Boston Bruins and the USA Field Hockey Team as her favorite sports teams … Dustin Pedroia and Torey Krug are her favorite sports figures … chose UMass Lowell because of the exciting team atmosphere, passionate coaching staff and academic opportunities.
 
Name: Sage Valente
Hometown/High School: Watertown, Conn./Northfield Mount Hermon
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-6
Club Team: HTF Field Hockey Club
Major: Nutrition
 
Highlights: Varsity team member and two-time captain at Northfield Mount Hermon … tallied 40 points as a senior … All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention … three-time NEPSAC All-Star Game participant … member of the Student-Athlete Committee of Excellence her senior year … two-time Under Armor select game participant … four-time Athlete of the Week … also played ice hockey, lacrosse and softball … Academic Honors.
 
Personal: Daughter of David and Teresa Valente … has two older siblings (Monica & Mitchell) … enjoys playing the piano and baking in her free time … names One Tree Hill and This is Us as her favorite TV shows … lists the New York Rangers as her favorite professional sports team and Hillary Knight as her favorite sports figure … chose UMass Lowell because of both the academic and athletic opportunities it provides.