UMass Lowell Wins 2005 Field Hockey National Championship

Posted: Nov 18, 2020

The 2005 UMass Lowell field hockey program rose to the pinnacle of Division II field hockey on Nov. 13, 2005, capturing the program’s first NCAA Championship. The River Hawks overcame a rocky start and some playoff turbulence to capture the first national title for a women’s team at UMass Lowell, jumpstarting a dominant run for the program.

UMass Lowell captured the 2003 and 2004 NE10 Titles but came up short in the NCAA Tournament each season, including a 4-1 loss to Bloomsburg in the 2003 NCAA Championship. With visions of an NE10 three-peat and a chance at revenge against the Huskies, the River Hawks opened the year with a 3-1 victory over Bryant. However, they dropped two of their next three to fall to 2-2 and 1-1 in the NE10.

A 2-0 victory over Assumption got the team back on track and they didn’t lose another regular season contest, finishing with an impressive 15-1 record and their first NE10 Regular Season Championship. UMass Lowell dispatched Southern Connecticut in the NE10 Semifinals and then faced off against Stonehill for the Championship. The game went to overtime tied at one and the River Hawks scored in the opening minute of overtime, however, due to a timing issue the goal was disallowed. Stonehill scored minutes later to secure the victory and NE10 Title, snapping UMass Lowell’s 16-game win streak.

Despite the loss the River Hawks earned a bye into the NCAA Semifinals, where they ran into Stonehill again. This time the River Hawks took a 2-0 lead into the half and gave up a single goal in the final 35 minutes to secure a return trip to the National Title game.

In the NCAA Championship they faced off against the three-time defending champion Bloomsburg. It took two overtime periods and more than ninety minutes, but senior Joanna DaLuze came through with the game-winning goal to secure the River Hawks a 2-1 victory and their first NCAA National Championship.

For UML Head Coach, and field hockey alum, Shannon LeBlanc this was just the start. The River Hawks claimed three more NE10 Tournament Championships over the next five years. They also advanced to the NCAA Championship game in 2007, 2008 and 2009, falling to Bloomsburg each season.

The River Hawks broke through again in 2010 going a perfect 24-0 and capturing the program’s second NCAA Title as they scored 119 goals while allowing just eight all season with 17 shutouts. UMass Lowell left for Division I following the 2012 season, but over its final ten years in the NE10 the River Hawks went 191-41 (.823) overall and an impressive 119-19 (.862) in conference play with eight NE10 Tournament Championships.

UMass Lowell Field Hockey Links of Note:

ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.