LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell field hockey team (2-4) hosts a pair of non-conference opponents this week at Wicked Blue Field. The River Hawks first welcome New Haven (0-4) on Friday, September 19 for a 7 p.m. matchup before celebrating Alumni Day on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 12 p.m. against Kent State (1-4).
 
ALUMNI DAY
In 2025, the UMass Lowell field hockey team is celebrating its 50th season. As part of that, the River Hawks will host Alumni Day on Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. Kent State. Over 50 alumnae from the last five decades are expected to return for the event, which will include a special pre-game ceremony and post-game reception.
 
RIVER HAWK REWIND
The River Hawks went 1-1 in a pair of challenging games last week to move to 2-4 on the season. The team first won, 5-2, at Queens on Sept. 12 before battling to a 9-1 decision at ACC foe Wake Forest on Sept. 14. Sophomore Karlijn Kerkhof (Rotterdam, Netherlands) led the offense with two goals and two assists for a total of six points on the week. Freshman goalkeeper Veerle Mous (Breda, Netherlands) finished the week with 15 saves, as well.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
Karlijn Kerkhof currently paces the River Hawk offense with five goals, five assists and fifteen points. Senior Madison Leeper (East Amherst, N.Y.) adds to the attack with three goals and three assists for nine points. Freshman Rena Pistilli (Lambaré, Paraguay) and senior Ava Clarke (Hopkinton, Mass.) each also have two goals so far. In the cage, Veerle Mous totals 37 saves for a 0.638 save percentage.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The River Hawks are squaring off against both New Haven and Kent State for the first time at the Division I level.
 
MILESTONE WATCH
Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc is only one win away from a coaching milestone. She currently owns 299 career victories, having finished Division II with exactly 200 wins. She is the winningest coach in program history.
 
STIFF COMPETITION
Four of the River Hawks' 2025 opponents were listed in the NFHCA Division I preseason national rankings, including Harvard, who had checked in at No. 6. Also on the list were Massachusetts, UAlbany and Wake Forest. Last year, the River Hawks defeated one nationally ranked opponent in No. 20 Rutgers. Since 2021, the team has challenged 14 nationally ranked opponents with 10 of the 11 setbacks being decided by two goals or less, including the recent outing against No. 14 Massachusetts on Aug. 31. 
 
HOME SWEET HOME
The season-opening win against Merrimack extended the River Hawks' home win streak to 10 games. The streak spanned from August 30, 2024 through Aug. 29, 2025, as UMass Lowell went an undefeated 9-0 on its home turf in 2024.
 
STARTING STRONG
The decision against Merrimack marked the River Hawks' ninth consecutive win in a home opener at Wicked Blue.
 
SPREADING THE LOVE
The River Hawks have already shown their depth this year, as six different players tallied a point in the home opener. So far, a total of nine team members have logged a point.
 
OF NOTE
Freshman Holly Beckinsale (Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland) logged her first career goals at Queens (9.12) … Veerle Mous logged a personal-best 14 saves vs. Massachusetts (9.14) … freshmen Audrey Carter (Dover, N.H.) and Haley Wernig (Franklin, Mass.) each logged their first career goal vs. Merrimack (8.29).