Season in Review: River Hawks Celebrate 50th Anniversary in 2025

12/5/2025 3:49:00 PM

LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell field hockey team celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, showcasing resilience and a competitive fire throughout a demanding schedule.

The River Hawks wrapped up the 2025 season with an 8-10 overall record, including a 3-2 mark in America East play, as the squad secured a top four conference finish and earned the right to host a postseason game for the second time at the Division I level. The year also featured several noteworthy individual performances, culminating with seven River Hawks earning America East All-Conference honors.

The team finished in the top 10 in the nation for goals per game, and in the top 15 for points and saves per game. Additionally, with 17 point scorers in 2025, the squad set a new DI program best. Perhaps the most memorable moment of the year, though, was when Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc earned her 300th career victory on September 19 vs. New Haven. The decision also marked her 100th win as a coach at the Division I level. Her 300 victories include two national championships, 8 NE-10 titles and 1 America East regular-season championship. Coach LeBlanc, the program’s winningest coach, just completed her 24th season at the helm.

RECAP - UML 6, MC 0

A 6-0 victory against Merrimack kicked off the 2025 schedule on a high note, as the River Hawks matched the outcome of their opener a season prior. Six different players amassed points in the convincing win. Senior Ava Clarke (Hopkinton, Mass.) led the offensive charge, netting a pair of goals to lift the River Hawks to an early lead.

Additional scores came from senior Madison Leeper (East Amherst, NY), sophomore Audrey Carter (Dover, NH), freshman Haley Wernig (Franklin, Mass.) and sophomore Karlijn Kerkhof (Rotterdam, Netherlands), underscoring the team’s offensive balance and circle execution.

Defensively, UMass Lowell dominated the circle — limiting Merrimack’s chances throughout and allowing zero shots on goal behind a composed defensive unit.

The River Hawks faced another formidable schedule in 2025, highlighted by a showdown with No. 4 Harvard and a series of tightly contested battles that reinforced the program’s ability to stand strong against top-ranked opposition. Since 2021, the team has challenged 13 nationally ranked opponents with three wins and eight of the ten setbacks being decided by just two goals or less.

RECAP - UML 14, NEW HAVEN 0

UMass Lowell secured a historic 14–0 home victory against New Haven during the first month of action.

The River Hawks' offense boasted 10 different scorers, led again by senior Ava Clarke (Hopkinton, Mass.) netting a hat trick. Junior forward Karli Penrod (Seaford, Del.) and freshman forward Alexa Guarneri (Hockessin, Del.) each scored two in the win.

The River Hawks dominated time of possession throughout the game, leading to zero shots allowed in the effort. The result gave the River Hawks the big win they were searching for, helping establish rhythm and refocus the group as the non-conference slate continued, leading to victories in four of the next five matches.

The River Hawks welcomed back over 50 alumnae from the last five decades of UMass Lowell field hockey for a very special Alumni Day against Kent State on Sept. 21. The event featured a ceremonial ball drop with Elaine Burke Keegan, a member of the program’s inaugural team back in 1975 and a four-year captain.

RECAP - UML 3, BRY 1

UMass Lowell opened America East play with a strong, 3–1 road win at Bryant, using steady possession and organized team defense to control much of the match. The Bulldogs struck first in the opening quarter, but the River Hawks steadied and evened the board in the second quarter on a penalty conversion by freshman Rena Pistilli (Lambaré, Paraguay).

UMass Lowell would take the lead just two minutes later on a goal from Karlijn Kerkhof. Thanks to strong defense and a score from junior Alice Van Hemelen (Tervuren, Belgium) in the fourth, the River Hawks would go on to begin 1-0 in conference play.

RECAP - UML 2, VER 1

UMass Lowell then earned an important conference victory with a 2–1 win over eventual America East champion Vermont in a tightly played matchup at Wicked Blue Field. The River Hawks opened the scoring in the second quarter when junior Florine Gerrits (Amstelveen, Netherlands) finished in the circle on an assist from Kariljn Kerkhof. The team continued to apply pressure and eventually added to the lead in the fourth quarter as Madison Leeper found the back of the cage. Vermont responded with a late goal, but the River Hawks remained composed in the final minutes and protected the lead.

On Senior Day against Quinnipiac, the River Hawks honored a core group of three true seniors and two grad students this season in Kleeman, Clarke, Leeper, Aurise Tattrie (Watertown, Mass.) and Maggie Dowd (Worcester, Mass.).

UMass Lowell wrapped up the regular season with a narrow, 4-3 overtime setback against UAlbany, locking in the fourth seed for the America East Championship. The River Hawks then battled No. 5 Maine at home in the quarterfinal round, but came up just short in a 4-3 decision, bringing their postseason run to an end.

Throughout the year, the River Hawks remained a strong presence within the conference, collecting meaningful victories and showcasing the competitive consistency that has become a hallmark of the program.

UMass Lowell’s goalkeeping unit in 2025 was led by freshman Veerle Mous (Breda, Netherlands), who started all 18 games and logged 1,038 minutes in the cage. Mous finished the season with 123 saves, a .691 save percentage and eight wins, serving as the anchor of the River Hawks’ defensive structure.

Offensively, Karlijn Kerkhof finished the season as the team leader in goals (14), assists (9) and total points (37) en route to America East First Team honors. Three River Hawks were named to the All-Conference Second Team, including junior Karli Penrod, junior Alice Van Hemelen (Tervuren, Belgium) and senior forward Madison Leeper. Leeper won All-Conference honors for the third consecutive year. She started all 18 games this season, totaling eight goals and 22 points. Her six assists marked a personal best, as well.

In addition, goalkeeper Veerle Mous and back Rena Pistilli were named to the America East All-Rookie Team.

Rounding out the award group, graduate student Cate Kleeman (Gibbsboro, NJ) and Leeper earned spots on the America East All-Academic Team, highlighting their excellence both on the turf and in the classroom.