River Hawks Welcome Eight Newcomers Ahead of 2026 Season

LOWELL, Mass.- UMass Lowell Field Hockey Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc has announced the addition of eight newcomers ahead of the program's 2026 season.

The River Hawks will welcome Frederique van den Dungen (Rosmalen, Netherlands), Sophie Han (Moorpark, Calif.), Mae Kemps (Vught, Netherlands), Shaye Lastella (Livingston, N.J.), Kendal Leeland (Towson, Md.), Sophia Setouhi (Watertown, Mass.), Ella Sluder (Allentown, N.J.) and Kat Staruski (Foxboro, Mass.) to the squad.

"We are looking forward to this energetic group of first years," said Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc. "They are talented, motivated and eager to embrace our culture of excellence both on and off the field. We are excited to watch them develop and contribute to our program."

RIVER HAWK PLAYER PROFILES

Name: Frederique van den Dungen
Hometown/High School: Rosmalen, Netherlands/Sint-Janslyceum
Previous School: Syracuse University
Class: Sophomore
Position: Back
Height: 5-4
Club Team: MHC Rosmalen
Major: Political Science

AS A FRESHMAN (2025): Member of the Syracuse University field hockey team.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Sint-Janslyceum … played club for MHC Rosmalen … during her freshman year, she played for the National League… debuted on the U15 first ladies team in her sophomore year.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Lars and Angela … has two siblings (Xavier and Julie) … lists shopping, reading, and going to the movies as her favorite hobbies … names Prison Break as her favorite TV show … Emma Reijnen is her favorite sports figure, while Real Madrid and HC Denbosch are her favorite sports teams … chose to attend UMass Lowell because of the people and coaches creating a great and welcoming environment.

Name: Sophie Han
Hometown/High School: Moorpark, Calif./Moorpark High School
Class: Freshman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-6
Club Team: VCRD High Performance
Major: Finance

HIGH SCHOOL: Played field hockey for VCRD High Performance.

PERSONAL: Daughter of John and Rose … has two siblings (Chloe and Brandon) … lists spending time with friends and family, listening to music, and watching movies and tv shows as her favorite hobbies … names The Bear and Dexter as her favorite TV shows … Paul Singh (club coach) is her favorite sports figure, while the Los Angeles Dodgers is her favorite sports team … chose to attend UMass Lowell because of the welcoming team environment and the competitive field hockey program.

Name: Mae Kemps
Hometown/High School: Vught, Netherlands/Maurick College
Class: Freshman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-2
Club Team: MOP Vught
Major: Undeclared

HIGH SCHOOL: During her senior year she was moved up to Woman 1 at MOP … helped her team win a first-half championship in her junior season … began playing with the U18 squad as a sophomore … played in the National League as a freshman and helped her team become champions during the first half of the season … participated in Jaktief, volunteering to lead a group of children during a vacation activity week … also participated at the Model European Parliament national debating competition.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Paulus and Carmen … has two younger siblings (Joaquin and Raf) … lists sailing, skiing, and traveling overseas as her favorite hobbies … names The Rookie as her favorite TV show … Xan de Waard is her favorite sports figures, while the Dutch Women's Field Hockey Team and PSV (soccer team in Eindhoven) are her favorite sports teams … chose to attend UMass Lowell because she felt at home after talking to the team and coaches, as well as being excited for the academic opportunities.

Name: Shaye Lastella
Hometown/High School: Livingston, N.J./Livingston High School
Class: Freshman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-4
Club Team: Centercourt FHC
Major: Pharmaceutical Sciences

HIGH SCHOOL: Named team captain as a senior at Livingston High … two-time conference champion … two-time SEC All-Conference First Team honoree … three-time Essex Union First Team selection … two-time Liberty Division honoree … earned Second Team All-Group 4 honors as a senior … surpassed 100 career points and helped lead team to the state semifinals as a senior … selected to compete in the Senior All-Star Game … named SEC All-Division First Team as a junior … with Centercourt FHC, she was a three-time U16 RCC team selection and helped her team place third at NCC as a junior … two-time NITQ qualifier … finished undefeated as U16 NITQ Pool A champions … also played lacrosse … named to the High Honor Roll.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Andrew and Deirdre … has one sibling (Evan) … lists traveling, spending time with friends and family, working out, reading, and going to the beach every summer as her favorite hobbies … names The OC, Gossip Girl, and Gilmore Girls as her favorite TV shows … chose to attend UMass Lowell because the coaching staff was inviting, and she was excited and impressed by the academic opportunities.

Name: Kendal Leeland
Hometown/High School: Towson, Maryland/Notre Dame Preparatory School
Class: Freshman
Position: Back
Height: 5-8
Club Team: Hymax Field Hockey
Major: Business Administration

HIGH SCHOOL: Two-year captain at Notre Dame Prep … named to the IAAM All-Conference A Team in her senior and junior year seasons … named an NFHCA All-Region Mid-Atlantic First Team and an All-State First Team selection as a senior as she helped her team finish as runners up for the IAAM A Conference Championship … led her team to the conference semifinals as a junior, winning NFHCA National Academic Squad honors and a her team's Coaches Award along the way … with Hymax Field Hockey, she won the 2025 U19 Junior Premier League Region 7 Championship, as well as the 2024 U19 Mid-Atlantic League Championship and second place finish in the 2024 U19 NIT.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Richard and Sharon … has two older siblings (Marissa and Gavin) … lists shopping with friends, cooking, and hiking as her favorite hobbies … names The Night Agent, New Girl, and Modern Family as her favorite TV shows … Ray Lewis is her favorite sports figure, while Baltimore Ravens is her favorite sports team … chose to attend UMass Lowell because it immediately felt like home because of how welcoming and supportive the team and coaches were, as well as the academic and athletic support that is available.

Name: Sophia Setouhi
Hometown/High School: Watertown, Mass./Watertown High School
Class: Freshman
Position: Forward
Height: 5-6
Club Team: Bedford Wizards
Major: Biomedical Sciences

HIGH SCHOOL: Named a captain in her senior year, while also being named All Scholastic for both the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe … two-time Middlesex League All-Star … named to All-District and Best of 60 Teams as a senior … finished her high school career with 103 consecutive wins and four D3 state championship titles … also played basketball and lacrosse.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Amr and Eelma … has three younger siblings (Seif, Salma, and Selim) … lists traveling, hanging out with friends and family, and working out as her favorite hobbies … names Desperate Housewives and Gossip Girl as her favorite TV shows … Alex Morgan, Trinity Rodman, Tom Brady, Mo Salah, Serena Williams, and Simone Biles are her favorite sports figures, while Liverpool Soccer, Celtics, Red Sox, and the Patriots are her favorite sports teams … chose to attend UMass Lowell because when she went to her first clinic she really liked the field and sports complex and loved the coaches, and knew that UMass Lowell would be a perfect fit.

Name: Ella Sluder
Hometown/High School: Allentown, N.J./Allentown High School
Class: Freshman
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Club Team: Jersey Intensity
Major: Business

HIGH SCHOOL: Named a captain in her senior year … two-time CVC Player of the Year and CVC Offensive Player of the Year … three-time All-CVC selection … two-time CJFHCA First Team All-Central Jersey honoree … First Team Group 2 NJ and First Team All-Area honors as a senior … surpassed 200 career points … helped team win back-to-back CVC Tournament championships, reach the Group 2 state semifinals as a junior and advance to the Group 2 sectional final as a senior … member of the National Honor Society.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Ely and Lindsey … has one sibling (Ayden) … lists baking, arts and crafts, hiking, going to the beach, and shopping as her favorite hobbies … names Brooklyn 99, Gilmore Girls, and the Summer I Turned Pretty as her favorite TV shows … Coco Gauff is her favorite sports figure, while the Philadelphia Eagles is her favorite sports teams … chose to attend UMass Lowell because when she met the team and coaches she immediately felt like she belonged and loved the academic, as well as the athletic environment.

River Hawks Welcome Eight Newcomers Ahead of 2026 Season

Players Mentioned

Sophie Han

Mae Kemps

Shaye Lastella

Kendal Leeland

Sophia Setouhi

Ella Sluder

Kat Staruski

Frederique van den Dungen

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