LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Athletics hosted its 2021 Hall of Fame induction on Saturday, October 16 at Moloney Hall as part of River Hawk homecoming weekend.
 
The induction ceremony was a historic one for UMass Lowell, as the department inducted its first ever all-female class, which included the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship Field Hockey Team, Amber (Gagnon) Chouinard '03 (Softball) and Barbara (Ryder) Brennan '76 (Softball and Basketball).
 
"Tonight was a historic moment," said Director of Athletics Peter Casey. "To be able to come together for the first time in two years to celebrate the accomplishments of our student-athletes was special in and of itself, but to be able to welcome our first all-female Hall of Fame class almost exactly 50 years after the passage of Title IX was remarkable. I would like to thank the Hall of Fame Committee for making this event happen, in addition to all of the inductees for taking the time to join us tonight so that we could enshrine them among the best of the best here at UMass Lowell." 
 
The 2010 field hockey team defeated Shippensburg, 1-0, in the national championship game to cap off the perfect, 24-0 season. The team was truly dominant on both sides of the ball that year, recording a total of 17 shutouts and outscoring opponents, 119-8.
 
"The 2010 team is truly the most dominant team in our athletic history," said Field Hockey Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc. "These young women performed at an epic level every single day that season. I couldn't be more proud of their accomplishments in 2010 and certainly now being inducted into our Athletic Hall of Fame. They will always hold a special place in our UMass Lowell athletics history and also in my heart."
 
Chouinard set several program records during her River Hawk career, batting .362 and adding 101 RBI. A two-way player, she was also a force in the circle, boasting an ERA of just 0.78 in her final season, which helped her team to its first NCAA appearance in 17 years. That same season, she earned New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association Player of the Year honors.
 
"This has literally been a dream come true," commented Chouinard. "Since I was a little girl, I really wanted to make it big in softball and being inducted into the Hall of Fame is just an unbelievable dream for me. The program and coaches have all been amazing and I'm truly blessed."
 
Brennan was a standout athlete for both the softball and women's basketball teams at Lowell State and the University of Lowell. Batting .473 in 1975, she helped lead her softball team to the first ever undefeated season in program history. On the court, she paced her squad in foul shots and rebounds. Brennen was also honored as the university's first ever Outstanding Female Athlete Award winner.
 
"I couldn't have asked for anything more amazing, I've loved every minute of this," Brennan exclaimed at the end of the night. "I think even more special is the entire class being all these talented women. I've had the time of my life."