LOWELL, Mass.—With opening faceoff for the 2022 season just two months away, UMass Lowell men's lacrosse head coach Ed Stephenson revealed his class of 19 newcomers set to take the field for the River Hawks this season.
 
"I'm absolutely thrilled with our newcomers, 14 bright and talented freshmen and four outstanding transfers. These student-athletes come from as far as Colorado to the West, Wisconsin and Ohio from the Midwest, and Pennsylvania, Maryland and North Carolina to the South. And, we have another really strong group from Massachusetts and New Hampshire," said Stephenson. "These young men achieved academic and athletic success through some very challenging times, and I'm excited to begin working them. Overall, this is our most athletic group of freshmen, and I expect as they develop this fall there could be a few pushing for time in the spring."
 
Making up the 18-player class, the incoming squad features freshmen attackers Ben Kirschner (Golden, Colo.), Khairi Sears (Columbus, Ohio), Nolan Perkins (Harwood, Md.) and junior transfer Brian Wiles (Longmeadow, Mass.); midfielders Riley Lawhorn (Amherst, N.H.), Bradley Brown (Sun Prairie, Wisc.), Christian Gastonguay (Chelmsford, Mass.), Mason Bowman (York, Pa.),Andrew Marks (Mooresville, N.C.) and graduate transfer Cole Keegan (Londonderry, N.H.); defenders Trevor Tismo (Centerville, Ohio), Ryan Quinlan (Mattapoisett, Mass.), Alex Chairs (Ellicott City, Md.), Henry De Tolla (Portsmouth, N.H.) and sophomore transfer Nolan Houlihan (Billerica, Mass.); goalkeepers Calvin Desmarais (Dracut, Mass.) and graduate transfer Paul Macrina (Wrentham, Mass.); and faceoff specialist Ben Quinn (Walpole, Mass.).
 
RIVER HAWK LACROSSE PROFILES
 
Name: Nolan Houlihan
Hometown/Previous School: Billerica Memorial
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185
Club: BostonLax
Major/Minor: Public Policy
 
At Hofstra (2021): Did not see any play time.
 
High School: A four-year letterwinner in lacrosse at Billerica Memorial High School … Was a two-time All-Conference selection as a sophomore and a junior … Two-time BostonLax All-State selection … Named to the Honor Roll or High Honor Roll every semester of high school … Also played four years of football and was a two-time 1st Team All-Conference selection and was named the Merrimack Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2019.
 
Personal: Has one sibling … Cousin, Jimmy Vesey Jr., currently plays professional hockey for the Buffalo Sabres … Enjoys playing, watching sports and lifting weights in his spare time … Lists 1984 as his favorite book … Volunteered weekly at the Billerica Food Bank with his high school football team.
 
Stephenson on Houlihan: "Houlihan has really good athletic instincts, and I'm looking forward to working with him"
 
Name: Cole Keegan
Hometown/Previous School: Londonderry, N.H. / New Hampshire
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195
Major/Minor: Finance/Computer Science
 
At New Hampshire (2020): Played a year of football.
 
High School: Played football, lacrosse and basketball at Londonderry High School … First team all-state wide receiver and won the New Hampshire Division I State Championship his senior year in football … First team All-State attackman his junior year in lacrosse.
 
Personal: Son of Alexia and Chuck Keegan of Londonderry, N.H. … Has two siblings (Kyle and Kelsey) … Outside of athletics he enjoys science … Played Division I football at the University of New Hampshire … Lists his greatest sports moment was winning the New Hampshire State Championship in football … Chose to attend UMass Lowell as its close to his hometown and gave him the opportunity to play a sport he loves at the collegiate level.
 
Stephenson on Keegan: "Keegan is a sophomore with four years of eligibility in lacrosse, and he's transferring from UNH where he played DI football. I saw his athleticism in high school, and I'm looking forward to having him apply it to the lacrosse field."
 
Name: Paul Macrina
Hometown/Previous School: Wrentham, Mass. / Drexel
Position: Goalie
Height: 6-1
Weight: 265
Major/Minor: Business Administration (MBA)
 
At Drexel (2018-21): Played in two games … Logged just over nine minutes of time in net … Recorded five saves on 12 shots faced while only allowing one goal.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Member of the football, track and field, and lacrosse teams at King Phillip High School … Named captain of the football team and won the first state championship in school history his senior year … Named captain and team MVP of the lacrosse team his senior year.
 
PERSONAL: Son to Kristin and Joe Macrina of Wrentham, Mass. … Has one twin brother (Sam) … His hobbies include spending time with friends and family … Says his favorite professional sports teams are the Philadelphia Wings and the New England sports teams … Says he chose to attend UMass Lowell because he loves the coaching staff and team.
 
Stephenson on Macrina: "I watched Paul develop in high school and throughout college, and I've been very impressed with him thus far."
 
Name: Brian Wiles
Hometown/Previous School: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Canisius
Position: Attack
Height: 5-9
Weight: 170
Major/Minor: Criminal Justice
Club: Team Central

At Canisius (2020-21): Appeared in a total of four games … Made collegiate debut vs. Hobart (2.8.20) … Recorded two ground balls … Member of the 2021 MAAC All-Academic Team.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played lacrosse at Tabor Academy … Named team MVP following junior and senior season … Finished high school with 261 career points on 163 goals and 98 assists … Two-time All-ISL Honorable Mention selection.
 
PERSONAL: Son to Teresa and Robert Wiles … Has two older siblings (Bobby and Sarah) … Lists his favorite professional sports teams as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Bills … Names Tim Tebow his favorite sports figure … Says his greatest sports moment was playing on the U20 National USA indoor lacrosse team … Chose UMass Lowell because of its great criminal justice program and great athletic facilities.
 
Stephenson on Wiles: "An attackman coming from Canisius, Wiles will have three years of eligibility [at UMass Lowell]. Having played on the United State U19 box lacrosse team, he is very nifty around the cage, and he's already meshing with the offense seamlessly."
 
Name: Mason Bowman
Hometown/High School: York, Pa. / Dallastown
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-10
Weight: 195
Major/Minor: Business
Club: FCA/Hardshells
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played both football and lacrosse at Dallastown High School … Named captain of the lacrosse and football team his senior year … Led his lacrosse team in goals and points his senior year … Named first team all-conference players in lacrosse.

PERSONAL: Son to Amanda and Andrew Bowman of York, Penn. … Has one sibling (Blake) … Lists his favorite TV shows as Swat, Clickbate and 911 … Names Ray Lewis and Tavon Austin as his favorite sports figures … Chose to attend UMass Lowell as they offer a great business program as well as it's in a good location where he can play for a high-level lacrosse team.
 
Stephenson on Bowman: "Mason is a strong midfielder from Pennsylvania."
 
Name: Bradley Brown
Hometown/High School: Sun Prairie, Wisc. / Sun Prairie
Position: Midfield
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180
Major/Minor: Exercise Science
Club: Alpha Milwaukee
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played football and lacrosse at Sun Prairie High School … Named a team captain in lacrosse in his junior and senior year … Earned Team MVP his senior year … Honored with second-team All-Conference and Academic All-Conference his senior year.
 
PERSONAL: Son to Debra and Michael Brown of Sun Prairie, WI. … Has one sibling (Bryce) … Lists his favorite hobbies as hunting, fishing and skiing … Lists the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers as his favorite professional sports teams … Chose to attend UMass Lowell as he wanted to compete athletically at the highest level as well as challenge himself academically.
 
Stephenson on Brown: He's an "athletic midfielder."
 
Name: Alex Chairs
Hometown/High School: Ellicott City, Md. / Mount St. Joseph
Position: Defense
Height: 6-5
Weight: 212
Major/Minor: Engineering
Club: Annapolis Hawks
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played basketball, lacrosse and water polo at Mount Saint Joseph High School.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Annie and Todd Chairs … Has three siblings (Clairanna, Wesley and Aidan) … Hays his favorite TV Show is The Walking Dead … Lists his favorite professional sports team as the Baltimore Ravens … Chose UMass Lowell because of how much he liked the lacrosse team and the engineering program.
 
Stephenson on Chairs: Alex is a "smart, strong and rangy defender."
 
Name: Calvin Desmarais
Hometown/High School: Dracut, Mass. / Dracut
Position: Goalie
Height: 5-9
Weight: 200
Major/Minor: Business
Club: New Hampshire Tomahawks
 
High School: Played football, lacrosse and wrestled at Dracut High School … Two-time MVC All-Star Team selection … Named to the Under Armour All-American All-Tournament team … MVC Small Player of the Year … Selected as an All-Scholastic Team honoree as a senior … Named an Under Armour games defensive MVP.
 
Personal: Son of Roxanne and Jamie Desmarais … Has two brothers (Andrew and Brock) … Father (Jamie) played football and wrested at UMass Lowell … Uncle (Sean) wrestled at UMass Lowell … Enjoys fishing, wake surfing and eating good food in his free time … Lists Trailer Park Boys as his favorite TV show … Names Tom Brady as his favorite athlete … Chose UMass Lowell because it is "close to home and has great academics".
 
Stephenson on Desmarais: Calvin is a "strong, tough and competitive goalie".
 
Name: Henry De Tolla
Hometown/High School: Portsmouth, N.H. / Kimball Union
Position: Defense
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Major/Minor: Electrical Engineering
Club: Long Island Sting
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Member of the football, lacrosse and basketball teams at St. Thomas Aquinas in New Hampshire … Member of First-Team All-State his junior year … Named US Academic All-American his senior year.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Elizabeth and Daniel De Tolla … Has three siblings (Camden, Finley, Charlotte) … Lists his hobbies as filming and editing videos as well as skiing … Names his favorite TV shows as Entourage, The Challenge, and Psych … Chose to attend UMass Lowell due to their outstanding engineering program.
 
Stephenson on De Tolla: Ryan is a "smart defender with range."
 
Name: Christian Gastonguay
Hometown/High School: Chelmsford, Mass. / Chelmsford
Position: Midfield
Height: 6-1
Weight: 187
Major/Minor: Business/Criminal Justice
Club: New England Twisters
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Member of the lacrosse and hockey teams at Chelmsford High School … Member of First Team All-State both his junior and senior year.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Michelle Ryder and Lee Gastonguay … Lists his favorite hobbies as skiing, basketball, and fishing … Names Alex Ovechkin and Tom Brady as his favorite sports figures … Boston Bruins are his favorite professional sports team … Chose to attend UMass Lowell as he grew up always wanting to attend the university.
 
Stephenson on Gastonguay: Christian is a "strong, smart defender."
 
Name: Ben Kirschner
Hometown/High School: Golden, Colo. / Golden
Position: Attack
Height: 5-9
Weight: 160
Major/Minor: Business
Club: Team 91
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Member of the lacrosse and basketball teams at Golden High School … Named First Team All-State, First Team All-Conference and First Team All-State Academic his senior year … Won the state championship his sophomore year.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Chris and Charles Bird … Has one sibling (Katie) … For hobbies, he enjoys hiking with friends and visiting National Parks … Lists his favorite TV show as Last Man on Earth … Says his favorite sports moment is winning the state championship his sophomore year of high school … Chose to attend UMass Lowell to be a part of the great Manning Business School and to continue playing lacrosse.
 
Stephenson on De Tolla: Ben is a "smart, quick attackman."
 
Name: Riley Lawhorn
Hometown/High School: Amherst, N.H. / Souhegan
Position: Midfield
Height: 6-1
Weight: 204
Major/Minor: Business Management
Club: NH Tomahawks
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played both football and lacrosse at Souhegan High School in Amherst, New Hampshire … Member of First Team All-Star in lacrosse and football his senior year … Offensive player of the year in Division II in football his senior year … U.S. All-American for lacrosse his senior year.
 
PERSONAL: Son to Cynthia and David Lawhorn … Has one sibling (Natalie) … Lists his favorite hobbies as working out, playing video games and hanging out with friends … Lists his favorite professional sports teams as the Patriots, Bruins and Celtics … Names his greatest sports moment as winning the state championship for football … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because he loves the campus and the coaching staff and team.
 
Stephenson on Lawhorn: Riley is a "very strong, athletic midfielder."
 
Name: Andrew Marks
Hometown/High School: Mooresville, N.C.  / Lake Norma
Position: Midfield
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
Major/Minor: Undecided
Club: Team Carolina
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played lacrosse at Lake Norman High School.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Krista and Brian Marks … Has two siblings (Caroline and Leigh) … Lists his hobbies as wake surfing and weightlifting … His favorite TV shows are Stranger Things, Hunterxhunter and Last Chance U … Says that his favorite professional sports teams are the Carolina Hurricanes and Hartford Walers … Chose UMass Lowell because of the location, coaches, players and staff.
 
Stephenson on Marks: Andrew is a "big, strong athletic midfielder".
 
Name: Nolan Perkins
Hometown/High School: Harwood, Md. / Archbishop Spalding
Position: Attack
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Major/Minor: Business
Club: API Diamondbacks
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played lacrosse at Archbishop Spalding High School … Helped Spalding reach the MIAA A Championship game and the #2 rank in the country his senior year … Won the MIAA A championship in the JV division his freshman year.

PERSONAL: Son of Katie and Matthew Perkins … Has one twin brother (Gavin) and a sister (Alex) … Says his favorite hobbies are video games and bowling … Lists his favorite TV show as Breaking Bad … His greatest sports moment is making it to the championship game his senior year of high school … Chose to attend UMass Lowell for its academics and to pursue lacrosse at the highest level.
 
Stephenson on Perkins: Nolan is a "smart and crafty attackman".
 
Name: Ryan Quinlan
Hometown/High School: Mattapoisett, Mass. / Old Rochester Regional
Position: Defense/LSM
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190
Major/Minor: Business
Club: Laxchusetts
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Member of the football, basketball and lacrosse teams at Old Rochester Regional … Named Standard Times Lacrosse Player of the Year his senior year … Team MVP for lacrosse his senior year … Standard Times Football Super Team member his senior year … Team Defensive MVP for football his senior year.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Maureen and Henry Quinlan … Has one sibling (Kelly) … Lists his greatest sport moment as getting to section semi-finals his senior year for lacrosse … His favorite sports team is the Patriots and his favorite sports figure is Tom Brady … Chose to attend UMass Lowell so that he could play lacrosse for another four years.
 
Stephenson on Quinlan: Ryan is a tenacious, smart ad rangy defender."
 
Name: Ben Quinn
Hometown/High School: Walpole, Mass. / Walpole
Position: Faceoff specialist
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
Major/Minor: Business/Finance
Club: Coyotes
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played lacrosse and hockey at Walpole High School … Named to First Team Bay State League All-Star as well as First Team Eastern Mass All-Star teams his senior year … Named lacrosse captain his junior and senior year … MIAA Hockey State Champion his junior year … Took part in the Best Buddies program.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Jen and Rick Quinn … Has three siblings (Kevin, Caileen and Tyler) … His favorite TV show is Game of Thrones … Lists his favorite professional sports team as the New England Patriots … Names his greatest sports moment as winning the hockey state championship as the 12^th seed … Chose UMass Lowell because it found it to be the perfect fit for him and its close to home.
 
Stephenson on Quinn: Ben brings the qualities of a "strong faceoff specialist."
 
Name: Khairi Sears
Hometown/High School: Columbus, Ohio / Salisbury School
Position: Attack
Height: 5-10
Weight: 178
Major/Minor: Business
Club: Resolute Columbus

HIGH SCHOOL: Played lacrosse at Salisbury High School … Named first team All-State Ohio, first team All-Conference, first team All-Midwest and offensive MVP his junior year.

PERSONAL: Son to Karen and Gregory Sears of Columbus, Ohio … Lists his hobbies as hanging out with his friends and traveling … Names his favorite TV shows as The Wire, Martin and Malcolm in the Middle … Says his favorite professional sports team is the Baltimore Ravens … Chose UMass Lowell because of the opportunity to be a part of something great.
 
Stephenson on Sears: Khairi is a "smart, strong and very tough attackman."
 
Name: Trevor Tismo
Hometown/High School: Centerville, Ohio / Centerville
Position: Defense/LSM
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Major/Minor: Business/Spanish
Club: Resolute Ohio
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played lacrosse at Centerville High School … Named starter for the varsity year all four years … Named team captain and MVP his senior year … Named Second Team All-Region and honored with NFHS Award for Excellence his senior year.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Gloria and Pierre Tismo of Centerville, Oh. … Hobbies include watching movies, fishing, hiking and sand volleyball …Lists his favorite TV shows as Friends, Avatar: The Last Airbender and Black Mirror … Names the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and Liverpool FC as his favorite professional sports teams … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because the of the size of the school and the culture within the athletic department and lacrosse program.
 
Stephenson on Tismo: Trevor is already a "competitive, smart and rangy defender."