BOSTON, Mass. – UMass Lowell field hockey back Cate Kleeman (Gibbsboro, N.J.) and men's soccer midfielder Mauro Fernandez (Fitchburg, Mass.) have been honored with nominations for the 2025-26 America East Woman and Man of the Year awards, respectively, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon.

The honor recognizes one senior male and female student-athlete from each of the conference's nine member institutions. The representatives are selected for having distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in areas like academic achievement, athletic excellence, service, and leadership.

An anchor of the back line known for her integrity, honesty and accountability, Kleeman, a captain during the 2025 season, logged a career-high 988 minutes in 2025. The back even tallied an assist in the 14-0 win over New Haven that gave Coach LeBlanc her 300th career win. However, Kleeman's contributions to UMass Lowell go far beyond the turf. An active member of SAAC during her career, including leading the organization as co-president as a senior, she has spearheaded the River Hawks' consecutive America East Food Frenzy wins. Caring deeply about sustainability and eliminating food insecurity, she traveled to Ghana in 2025 to take the course "Global Energy and Public Health in the Developing World." Additionally, through the Rist Institute on campus, she earned the opportunity to travel to the 30^th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil this past fall. For all her service efforts, in 2025, Kleeman was named a WBZ MVP by the Boston CBS affiliate, an America East Woman of the Year nominee and a UMass Lowell Chancellor's Medal for Student-Service recipient. Also a dedicated student, Kleeman was named to the America East All-Academic Team and was a four-time NFHCA Scholar of Distinction

A four-year member of the UMass Lowell men's soccer team, Fernandez showed all year his ability to be a leader for the River Hawks on the field and in the classroom. One of only six River Hawks to appear in at least 17 games, the senior totaled the second-most minutes played on the team with 1356, including playing the entirety of 10 different games, including the 110-minute overtime battle in the America East Quarterfinals. His coaches say that "since day one, Mauro displayed a level of leadership and selflessness to the team and program that was unmatched, and he has set the precedent for the future on what it means to be a UML men's soccer student-athlete." Off the field, Fernandez has also served in his community, taking part in multiple community services activities alongside his teammates.
 
The 18 total nominees will be narrowed down to three finalists per gender, who will be announced on Tuesday, May 26. The 2025-26 America East Woman and Man of the Year will be unveiled on Wednesday, June 5 at the conference's annual awards dinner.
 
The America East Woman of the Year will then be forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee. The committee will select the top 10 in each NCAA division (I, II and III). From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics (CWA) will vote from among the top nine to determine the 2026 NCAA Woman of the Year.

The America East began honoring a Woman of the Year in 2006 and introduced the Man of the Year award in 2015. Kelly Freitas '16 of the UMass Lowell field hockey team was the first River Hawk to ever earn the America East Woman of the Year title, while Christian Lutete '20 became the first River Hawk to win America East Man of the Year.
 
To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in their primary sport by the end of the 2026 spring season, or received their undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2026 term, and have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.50 (4.00 scale).