(Photo courtesy of UML athletics) “The co-champion title marks the first instance of a shared honor for the women’s lacrosse team.”
Jake Messer
Connector Editor
For the very first time in program history, the River Hawks Women’s Lacrosse team is Co-Season Champions with the Bryant Bulldogs, finishing with a record of 11-5 overall, 5-1 in conference play.
Entering Saturday’s game against the previously mentioned Bulldogs, the River Hawks had a chance to make history as first-time regular-season champions. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, as the River Hawks fell 15-8, in what could be a finals preview next weekend.
What got the River Hawks here, here at program history, here at the brink of the fierce America East playoffs?
Well, on April 16, they went to Hanover, New Hampshire, to take on Dartmouth, where it wasn’t a conference matchup, but still was a great test to show the division, as well as the lacrosse world, that the River Hawks were true contenders.
The River Hawks came out very sluggish and slow, falling behind and eventually staying behind for the entire game. However, the team showed their backbone and almost made an insane comeback in the final minutes of the matchup.
“I’m proud of the way we competed and came back from a four-goal deficit,” said Head Coach Lisa Miller. “The kids gave it everything they had. Dartmouth’s draw taker is special, and we just couldn’t figure it out. It’s on me to find a way to better prepare us for the circle.”
Over a week later, the team traveled to Amherst to take on their in-state rivals in the No. 25 ranked Minutemen. In what many saw as a chance to prove themselves, the River Hawks came up short. They were ultimately blown out by a score of 7-18. What followed next was the loss to Bryant.
While some fans may be worried that the River Hawks aren’t trending in the right direction right before the playoffs, they have to remember that the team is playing against much fiercer competition to end the year, with teams that are either on or near the top 25 rankings.
Leading the team into the postseason will be senior Jade Catlin, who redefined the record books this season. In just 16 games, Catlin was able to score 50 goals, a new school record, breaking her own record, which previously sat at 48 from the year before.
Catlin is making a name for herself throughout her entire collegiate career, and at the end of it all, she can call herself something special: the undisputed best player in program history.
Catlin’s 139 goals are a career record, coupled with a career record 181 points, few can lay claim to her status as the best. In what will be the last few times she takes the field, she will look to make the most of this opportunity and try to win not only the programs first ever America East Championship, but the school’s first as well, as all other teams have yet to win the big win since reclassifying to Division I in 2013.
Their chance will come as the River Hawks will travel to Rhode Island to play in the Semi-finals against UAlbany, in what will be an enthralling contest on May 2. The time that the matchup will start is yet to be determined.
If the River Hawks win, they will face the winner of Bryant and UMBC in the Championship game on Sunday, May 4. With history on the horizon, the River Hawks will look to push onwards and set the standard for the future of UMass Lowell Athletics.
