LOWELL, Mass. – The No. 18 UMass Lowell field hockey team (14-3, 7-1 AE) earned its sixth shutout of the year, defeating Stanford (4-11, 1-7 AE), 3-0, to wrap up the regular season on Sunday at Wicked Blue Field.
 
With the victory, the River Hawks secure a share of their first ever America East regular-season title, finishing tied for first in league play with UAlbany at 7-1. Following tiebreaking procedures, UMass Lowell has also earned the right to host the 2023 America East Championship at Wicked Blue Field from November 2-5.
 
"I thought after the first quarter, we just took control of the game," said Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc. "Obviously, a lot of emotions and a lot at stake out there, but I thought we got the first-quarter jitters out and then just took control.
 
"We couldn't have scripted this any better," added the veteran coach. "It's been 10, long years of really hard work by a lot of people on my staff and a lot of women, who signed up for something really hard, so for it to culminate 10 years later with earning a co-championship, is just truly unbelievable."
 
Sophomores Meike Vischer (The Hague, Netherlands) and Madison Leeper (East Amherst, N.Y.), and junior Maxine van Havere each notched a goal in the outing, while freshmen Florine Gerrits (Amstelveen, Netherlands) and Karli Penrod (Seaford, Del.) each added an assist. Senior goalkeeper Christina Calandra (Manchester, Mass.) made three saves in the cage en route to her first solo shutout of the season.
 
The teams traded possession in the first quarter, although it was the Cardinal that registered the first two shots and two corners of the day.
 
The River Hawk offense got to work in the second quarter, taking control of the momentum and keeping play in their attacking end. The home team used a 7-1 shot advantage and a 4-1 edge on corners to break open the scoreless stalemate in the 24^th minute. On that corner play, senior Alissia de Vries (The Hague, Netherlands) fired off an initial shot that ricocheted off the opposing keeper before Vischer reacted with a diving putback to give her side a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
 
UMass Lowell fended off a Stanford corner to open the third and would extend its lead in the 39^th minute, as Gerrits dribbled towards the cage and dished a short pass through traffic to Leeper for the one-timer on target.
 
The home squad added one more insurance goal in the 48^th minute on a corner when Penrod inserted a ball to van Havere on the wing for a sweeping shot that found its way to the back of the cage to secure the 3-0 victory.
 
The River Hawks recognized their senior class one more time prior to the start of the contest.
 
"This senior class has truly transformed our program," concluded LeBlanc. "They have every quality and more we look for to contribute to our culture of excellence. They are selfless, kind, motivated, grateful and exude all things that are good in this world. This group is special and they were meant to accomplish amazing things. I tell them all the time that I thank the universe for sending them to us. They are truly the best of the best."
 
As the top seed for the postseason, the River Hawks have an opening-round bye and will square off against the winner of the No. 4 California vs. No. 5 Vermont game on Friday, November 3 at 12 p.m.