LOWELL, Mass. – Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc has announced the addition of six newcomers to the UMass Lowell field hockey roster for the upcoming season.
 
The River Hawks will welcome Valerie Crory (Littleton, Mass.), Cate Kleeman (Gibbsboro, N.J.), Maxine Van Havere (Wilrijk, Belgium), Sydney Grim (Reading, Pa.), Melanie Borneman (Crofton, Md.) and Jillian Loebs (Acton, Mass.) in 2021.
 
"We are very excited to welcome the UMass Lowell class of 2025," said LeBlanc, who is entering her 20^th year at the helm of the program. "This group of young women understand the culture and expectations of the program, and will be great representatives of our team in the classroom and on the field. We are excited to watch their growth over the next four years and the energy they will bring each and every day."
 
RIVER HAWK PLAYER PROFILES
 
Name: #8 Valerie Crory
Hometown/High School: Littleton, Mass./Littleton
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Club Team: Northeast Elite
Major: Undeclared
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year team member at Littleton … senior captain … four-time League All-Star … three-time Telegram & Gazette Super Team selection … two-time league MVP … named the Lowell Sun Player of the Year with a career-best 43 goals and 27 assists as a junior … earned nods as a Lowell Sun All-Star and Rookie of the Year as a freshman … won the U19 National Indoor Field Hockey Championship with her club team as a junior … also played ice hockey and lacrosse and served as captain.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Michael and Brittany Crory … has an older brother (Michael) … enjoys spending time friend and family, and going on vacation in her free time … lists Stranger Things as her favorite TV show … names the Boston Bruins as her favorite professional sports team and Carli Lloyd as her favorite sports figure … chose UMass Lowell to play field hockey and further her education.
 
Name: #11 Cate Kleeman
Hometown/High School: Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional
Position: Back
Height: 5-6
Club Team: Uprise FHC
Major: Environmental Science
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-year varsity team member at Eastern Regional … helped lead her team to an undefeated season as a senior … NJ.com's 2020 Field Hockey Group 4 First Team … 2019 National Indoor Tournament Division Championship team member with USA Field Hockey … also played lacrosse and swam … Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society, Distinguished Honor Roll all 4 years.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Jeffrey Kleeman and Maggie Moy … has two older siblings (AJ and Lindsay) … enjoys listening to music and watching movies in her free time … lists Psych as her favorite TV show … names all the Philadelphia teams as her favorite professional sports teams … Sabrina Ionescu and Simone Biles are her favorite sports figures … chose UMass Lowell because she felt she fit in with the field hockey program and loved the focus on building all around strong, independent women instead of just athletes.
 
Name: #12 Maxine Van Havere
Hometown/High School: Wilrijk, Belgium/Saint Joseph's Institute
Position: Midfielder/Back
Height: 5-7
Club Team: Royal Victory Hockey Club
Major: Undeclared
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Royal Victory Hockey Club since she was five years old … in 2017, she helped lead her team to the U16G1 Fall Championship … trained with the first ladies team of Royal Victory and made it to the semifinals of the National Division in Belgium.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Levi Van Havere and Katrin De Groof … one younger sister (Alexis) … enjoys skiing and playing padel in her free time … other hobbies include traveling … Blind Getrouwd is her favorite TV show … The Red Lions are her favorite professional sports team and influence … chose UMass Lowell because it felt like the right fit after speaking with the coaches.
 
Name: #13 Sydney Grim
Hometown/High School: Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic
Position: Forward
Height: 5-4
Club Team: X Calibur FHC
Major: Business Administration
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year varsity team member at Berks Catholic … two-time captain … two-time All-State honoree … named All-BCIAA County Player of the Year as a senior … achieved 100 Career Points … received All-Division First Team honors as a junior and a sophomore … Most Improved Player Award.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Shane and Jamie … has one older brother (Riese) … her father played football at Kutztown University … hobbies include traveling, hiking, coaching and writing … That 70s Show and Letter Kenny are her favorite TV shows … the Philadelphia Flyers are her favorite professional sports team … calls Ashley Hoffman and JJ Watt her favorite sports figures … chose UMass Lowell for the great education and coaching opportunities and to be part of a great team culture.
 
Name: #16 Melanie Borneman
Hometown/High School: Crofton, Md./St. Mary's
Position: Back
Height: 5-3
Club Team: Severna Park Spark
Major: Criminal Justice
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Helped the Severna Park Spark finish second in the B-Pool at the National Indoor Tournament as a senior … as a junior, placed first in the Junior Premiere Indoor League and at the National Indoor Tournament … placed first in the Maryland Region at the Regional Club Championship and got a bid to attend the National Club Championships … also played lacrosse and golf.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Joe and Suzanne Borneman … has two older sisters (Mikayla and Megan) … sister Megan played field hockey at New Hampshire … sister Mikayla played field hockey at UMass Lowell … hobbies include art, baking and golf … lists Grey's Anatomy as her favorite TV show … the Washington Capitals are her favorite professional sports team … TJ Oshie is her favorite sports figure … chose UMass Lowell because she really liked the atmosphere on campus and it felt like she belonged.
 
Name: #24 Jillian Loebs
Hometown/High School: Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough Regional
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Height: 5-6
Club Team: Stikers Stars
Major: Business Administration
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Team member at Acton-Boxborough Regional … senior captain … led her team and the entire Dual County League in scoring as a senior with 17 goals and six assists … DCL All-Conference All Star as a senior … earned Boston Herald All-Scholastic … paced her team in scoring as a junior with 22 goals and eight assists … 2017 and 2019 National Futures Selection … also played ice hockey … three time All-Conference All Star on the ice … 2019 Massachusetts Shriners All-Star selection … Honor Roll student.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Terry and Cathy Loebs …has two siblings (Alex and Emily) … brother Alex played ice hockey at Roger Williams … sister Emily played ice hockey and lacrosse at St. Michael's … enjoys going to the beach with her friend in her free time … calls Grey's Anatomy and Schitts Creek her favorite TV shows … lists the Boston Bruins as her favorite professional sports team and David Pasternak as her favorite sports figure … chose UMass Lowell because everyone was so welcoming, and she knew it was a place she wanted to be academically and athletically for the next four years.