The team fought valiantly last season, grabbing a fourth-place finish in the America East, going 8-12 in conference play and 21-29-1 overall. This year, the River Hawks aim to find their stride early and push for a conference title. 

"Obviously, the ultimate goal is always to win the America East and compete in the NCAA Tournament, but we're focused. We're really just trying to get better each day," said Starek. "Win the innings, do the small things and just compete to the best ability of our each time. I think if we do that, we'll take care of the rest."

Among the many veteran players returning to the lineup are graduate student Cayla Tulley (Corona, Calif.), seniors Ellie Frederick (Sunapee, N.H.) and Morgan Fisher (Glassboro, N.J.), junior Emily Tow (North Kingstown, R.I.), and sophomore Katelyn Fitzgerald (Ambler, Pa.).

Tulley, an outfielder, returns for her fifth year as a River Hawk. She started in all 51 games last season, ranking fourth on the squad in batting average (.270), while accumulating 40 hits and 25 RBI. She also finished with the team's best slugging percentage (.520), ranking sixth in the America East. 

Frederick is another key returner, after leading the River Hawks in at-bats (176), home runs (10), and total bases (85) last season. The reliable slugger started every game in 2023 with a .483 slugging percentage, in addition to going a perfect 9-for-9 on stolen bases.

Fisher ended the 2023 season ranked first on the squad in several offensive categories, including hits (49), doubles (11) and RBI (37), while putting up an .838 on-base percentage and a .463 slugging percentage. She started in all 51 games last season and looks to replicate her America East All-Conference First Team performance going into 2024.

Tow was another productive contributor at the plate in 2023. She started in all 50 games she appeared in, batting .221 with 31 hits, 13 runs scored and seven stolen bases. 

Fitzgerald, who earned America East All-Rookie Team honors last year, started 41 of the 46 games she appeared in. She recorded a .252 batting average and .597 OPS with 30 hits and 13 RBI. She was also a steadfast defensive player, leading the team with 219 putouts and ranking second in double plays with 10.

The River Hawks, who were tabbed to finish third in the America East Preseason Coaches' Poll, kick off the 2024 campaign with 20 straight games away from friendly confines, including three tournaments in warmer climates. 

Opening day brings a doubleheader against Texas Southern and Texas A&M Commerce at the Lion Classic hosted by Texas A&M-Commerce. They follow that up with another matchup against both opponents and a game against in-state rival Stonehill to close out the weekend.

"I think we always try to start with some good competition right in the beginning of the year, set the standards, and see what we need to do in-between," said Starek. "That's the nice thing about playing in the tournaments. We built it so that we can kind of focus on some of the things that we're seeing early. So by the time we get to conference, we feel really solid, and we can build up the confidence and compete with some tough teams."

Adaptability and athleticism are two characteristics of this year's squad, including for the newcomers. All hailing from different states, this year's freshman class looks to provide a spark for the River Hawks.

"I think we'll see some of them on the field, which is exciting," commented Starek. "A lot of them can do multiple things for the team and play multiple roles for us, so I think we'll see some exciting stuff out of them."

The River Hawks bring in freshmen pitchers Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) and Sara Moeller (Andover, Mass.), who will add essential depth and versatility to the rotation. The squad also adds freshmen infielders Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) and Isabel Quintanilla (Puyallup, Wash.), who will look to showcase their skills early on. The final addition is freshman outfielder Alaina Santoli (Lovettsville, Va.), who will look to earn her role as a reliable and dependable outfielder.

Establishing a strong team culture has been critical in preparation for the season. Despite the small roster, the squad carries a lot of experienced players who have made hard work, team cohesion and a competitive atmosphere their keys to success for the 2024 season.

"We've done a lot of work," concluded Starek. "We can see there is a real drive for what they want to do, and I think they're all moving in the right direction. We found that the key to chemistry where we're working really well as a group is that they've really embraced the culture, being a family and being there for one another. I think those things are really important to keep a good atmosphere."