LOWELL, Mass. – In their third season under Head Coach Drew Kelleher, the UMass Lowell men’s lacrosse team fought through the ups and downs of a challenging 13-game schedule, posting the most wins by the program in a season since 2019. Prior to the season, Coach Kelleher loaded up the roster, adding 19 new players to the squad, including 16 true freshmen.

UML 14, Merrimack 9 – RECAP

Opening up the season at Cushing Field, the River Hawks came out firing, scoring six times in the opening quarter to jump out to an early 6-2 lead. After both teams added one each to keep the margin the same heading into halftime, the River Hawks continued to push on the gas, adding seven goals in the second half, highlighted by four goals by senior Riley Lawhorn (Amherst, N.H.), to seal the 14-9 victory. The win marked the first since the 2022 season and the first under Coach Kelleher. 

Lawhorn and True Earn America East Weekly Awards

After impressive performances in the season opening win, Lawhorn was tabbed the America East Offensive Player of the Week, while freshman AJ True (Manchester, N.H.) was named the America East Goalkeeper of the Week, as announced by the conference days after the win over Merrimack.

UML 10, NJIT 8 – RECAP

Despite allowing the first goal of the game just over a minute in, the River Hawks didn’t let it get to them, scoring five unanswered goals, including two from Soi, to take a 5-1 lead over conference rival NJIT. After a back-and-forth second quarter that left UMass Lowell in front 8-4, the hosts played near perfect defense in the third, allowing only one goal late in the quarter to help maintain the four-score difference. The Highlanders looked to make a comeback, scoring two straight to cut the lead in half, but the River Hawks refused to back down, as senior Riley Lawhorn (Amherst, N.H.) scored in the final minute to close out the 10-8 win, the team’s first conference victory since the 2022 season.

ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

Following the conclusion of the season, three River Hawks garnered all-conference honors. Graduate student Garrett Murphy (Billerica, Mass.) was named to both the America East All-Conference Second Team and All-Academic Team for the first time in his career. Murphy took his game to a new level in his first season, posting career highs in goals (19), assists (9) and points (29), while also adding 11 ground balls, two caused turnovers and a game-winning goal. 

Also recognized by the conference were Burke and True, who both were tabbed to the America East All-Rookie Team. In his first season, Burke made his name known, leading the River Hawks with 15 assists and 32 points. Sitting fourth on the squad with 17 goals, his 2.46 points per game ranked seventh in the America East and first among the conference’s freshmen. True, who opened the season with the starting goalkeeper job, was quick to settle in, making 15 saves and allowing only nine goals to help guide the team to it’s first win since 2022. The rookie maintained a strong showing throughout the season, making 134 saves in 11 starts while allowing 137 goals, good for an 11.82 saves per game average, the second highest in the America East. 

Alongside Murphy, a plethora of River Hawks made significant strides in 2025, including Lawhorn, who posted 18 goals, alongside personal bests in assists (7) and points (25). Although his best performance came in the season opener with five goals, he was as consistent as they come, scoring at least one goal in all but one game throughout the season. Joining him with double digit goals, Soi and sophomore Colby Frigon (Providence, R.I.) each surpassed their freshman totals, with Soi recording 22 goals and five assists, while Frigon posted 22 points off 13 goals and nine assists. 

With a solid core developed, the rookie class was able to leave its mark right away. On the offensive end, the rookie class excelled, combining for 65 points, including 40 goals, led by Burke’s 32 points. Behind him, Alex Lafreniere (Chelmsford, Mass.) added 15 points, while freshman Griffin Sumwalt (Aquebogue, N.Y.) finished with ten goals and three assists, including a goal in each of his last three games. While True started nearly every game in the net, the defense was also led by freshman Jack Jimenez (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.), who tallied a team-best nine caused turnovers and was third on the team with 22 ground balls.