Season in Review: River Hawks Turn In Historic 2023 Season

12/7/2023 4:11:00 PM

LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell field hockey team found another gear this year, turning in a historic 2023 season.

We had set some really high goals and intentions for our program last spring, and to see them come to fruition was amazing. I’m so proud of the commitment that the entire team put in. For us, our journey really began last November, and to see it culminate with the number one seed and a regular-season championship was just unbelievable.

Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc

The squad finished 14-4 overall, marking the fourth straight winning season for the River Hawks, in addition to setting a new Division I program record for most wins in a season after besting last year's 12 wins.

In conference play, the River Hawks soared to new heights. The team went a program-best 7-1 in America East games to win its first Division I regular-season title, sharing the trophy with UAlbany. The River Hawks also clinched the No. 1 seed for the America East Championship for the first time in program history.

RECAP - UML 5, LIU 1

A 5-1 win against LIU opened what would be a strong campaign for UMass Lowell. Junior forward Sydney Grim (Reading, Pa.) scored the first goal of her career and of the season, followed by goals from three different River Hawks, including a pair from sophomore forward Isabelle Halters (Noordwijk, Netherlands).

RECAPS - UML 9, MC 0 / UML 9, CMU 0

UMass Lowell was strong from the start, winning three of their first four games, two of which saw the team win in 9-0 fashion in back-to-back games against Merrimack and Central Michigan to match the Division I program record for most goals in a game.

The River Hawks did not back down from stiff competition all season, facing a nationally ranked opponent in each of the first three weeks of action, including a visit to the nation’s top ranked team for the first time ever when they made the trek to Iowa on Sept. 10. The visitors hung with the No. 1 squad, and graduate student Berbel Rozema’s (Rotterdam, Netherlands) goal was one of just five allowed by the Hawkeyes through the month of September.

We have been knocking at the door over the last few years and saying why not us. It was one play or one mental mistake that was keeping us from getting to that place, and I would say this year that once we experienced playing the No. 1 team in the country, we knew we could play with anyone. It’s one thing for us as the coaching staff to understand how good we are, but it’s another thing for the players to feel that and I truly feel like after that first quarter when we settled in against Iowa it just gave us that confidence. We started realizing that we were just as good as anyone else, so why not us this year, why not UMass Lowell.

RECAP - UML 2, UMA 1

The tough schedule helped prepare the River Hawks to claim the Kennedy Cup against No. 18 Massachusetts for the first time ever. Sophomore Meike Vischer (The Hague, Netherlands) scored twice in that 2-1 victory, helping to secure just the second ever win against a ranked opponent at the DI level for UMass Lowell.

“The Kennedy Cup has been eluding us for so long, so for us to be at our home field to raise our first trophy of the season, was awesome," added LeBlanc. "The team's mindset was they were not walking away on our field without that trophy, and truly that was the game that changed the course of our season. Once they experienced that hard-fought win, once they experienced raising a trophy, they didn't let anything get in their way.”

A 4-0 win at Maine not only marked the first America East shutout against the Black Bears since 2019, but also opened a thrilling conference run. Wins against Vermont and California followed, matching last year's best start (3-0).

The strong start would see sophomore Madison Leeper (East Amherst, N.Y.) spark a goal-scoring streak that lasted five consecutive games. Additionally, the team set new Division I program records for longest home win streak (8) and longest overall win streak (7) during the first half of the season.

Perhaps most notably, though, the River Hawks’ skills, depth and results finally garnered national attention when the team broke into the NFHCA DI Top 20 for the first time ever in week four on Sept. 26, claiming the No. 18 spot. The team would remain nationally ranked throughout the regular season, climbing as high as No. 17 on Oct. 3.

“That was a special day to finally know that we’ve arrived and other people have noticed," recalled LeBlanc. "I think I’ve always known how good we are. My players sometimes don't know how good they are, but when we were recognized by the other coaches in the country to be one of the top 20 teams was a very humbling experience and one that I am forever grateful for because when others take notice, it just gives you that pride in what you've been building.”

National Rankings ??????????????!!!!

For the first time at the Division I level, the River Hawks are nationally ranked at No. 18 in the @NFHCA week four coaches' poll! ?????#UnitedInBlue | #AEFH pic.twitter.com/LNXK0q3Ybo
— UMass Lowell FH (@RiverHawkFH) September 26, 2023

RECAP - UML 3, STAN 0

The River Hawks went undefeated in their final four conference games to manage their own fate and secure their first regular-season championship with a 3-0 shutout against Stanford in the finale.

“The moment was surreal. In our 10th anniversary of going Division I to have our most historic season and win that championship, for me personally was just a feeling that’s hard to explain. Building a culture of success doesn't happen overnight, and I just really appreciate all of my players over the past ten years in Division I that bought in and helped elevate us because that made the biggest difference this season, believe it or not.”

Although semifinal action against No. 5 California ended in double-overtime heartbreak, the River Hawks had so much to be proud of, including Division I program records for goals (57), goals per game (3.17) and home wins (11). The team’s goals per game and scoring average (3.13) both ranked second in the country, while the defense was also a force, finishing fourth in the nation for scoring margin (1.86).

“Obviously didn't go the way we had hoped, but I think you have to learn from history, and you have to draw from your experiences, so although it didn't end the way we wanted, we still have something to work for next season. “The most exciting part was after that last game, we felt unfinished, and that's a great feeling to have because that means you want to come back and you want to accomplish more next season. That's what I'm most excited about.”

Leeper led the offense with a career-high 14 goals and 31 total points in 2023, matching the Division I program record in both categories. Vischer added eight goals and 19 points, while freshman Karli Penrod (Seaford, Del.) finished with a team-best seven assists en route to 15 points.

For the first time in program history, the River Hawks took home three major America East honors. LeBlanc and her staff were tabbed America East Coaching Staff of the Year, while senior Alissia de Vries (The Hague, Netherlands) was named Defensive Player of the Year and freshman Marie Oliemans (Driebergen, Netherlands) received Rookie of the Year accolades. Four other River Hawks were named to All-Conference teams, as Leeper joined de Vries on the America East All-Conference First Team, and senior Mirthe Gans (Tiel, Netherlands) was selected for Second Team honors. Penrod received an All-Rookie Team nod with Oliemans, while junior Cate Kleeman (Gibbsboro, N.J.) and de Vries were voted to the league's All-Academic Team.

de Vries, who was also named to the NFHCA Senior Team, and Leeper went onto receive both America East All-Championship Team and NFHCA Division I All-Northeast Region accolades. de Vries collected an All-Region First Team nod after being tabbed to the Second Team in 2022, becoming the River Hawks’ second Division I First Team selection. Leeper also earned a spot on the All-Region Second Team this year. It is the second year in a row where multiple River Hawks have garnered NFHCA Division I All-Northeast Region honors.

The River Hawks also honored a core group of five seniors this season in de Vries, Gans, Gianna Conte (Salisbury, Mass.), Aurise Tattrie (Watertown, Mass.) and Sage Valente (Watetown, Conn.).

“This group of seniors was remarkable," concluded LeBlanc. "They bought in from day one, and to see their hard work, their dedication, their loyalty and their commitment to a very hard four years culminate in a historic season, I couldn't have scripted it better for that group. They are truly a group I have never had before, as such a strong core five. They’re best friends on and off the field. They provided a tremendous amount of balanced leadership and really, truly inspired this team to be the best we could possibly be.”