Field Hockey: 2007 UMass Lowell Season In Review
Head Coach Shannon Hlebicuk has built winning culture at UML in her six years at helm

LOWELL, MA (Mar. 5, 2008) – On the surface the story seems the same: another year, another championship. But to say that is to oversimplify the success of the 2007 UMass Lowell River Hawks field hockey team.

As with any year, the River Hawks faced new challenges, obstacles that needed to be overcome. The 2007 team was young and so much of the championship experience from previous years was gone. Eight freshmen joined the roster and just eight players remained from the 2005 national championship team.

Nonetheless the expectations were high. The River Hawks were picked to win the Northeast-10 regular season title. And, as always with a UML field hockey team, anything short of winning was unacceptable. Sixth-year head coach Shannon Hlebichuk has truly built a culture of winning at UMass Lowell.

The River Hawks posted a 19-3 record, and captured the NE-10 regular season championship with a 15-1 conference record. It was their second regular season title in the last five years. And at the end of October UML captured its fifth straight NE-10 tournament title and reached the NCAA Final Four for the fifth straight season.

The River Hawks got out of the gates fast in the regular season winning six of their first eight games. The two losses during that stretch were Lowell’s only two of the regular season.

After the September 20 overtime 3-2 loss at C.W. Post the River Hawks won their next 13 matches. During the 13-game wining streak, UML out-scored its opponents 57 to 13.

At the end of October the River Hawks won their fifth straight NE-10 tournament title. UML defeated St. Michael’s, 2-1, in overtime in the semifinals, and cruised to a 5-1 victory over Bentley in the NE-10 championship match.

The NE-10 tournament title meant that for the fifth straight year the River Hawks season would end in the NCAA Final Four. And for the second straight year, the River Hawks season would end just short of their ultimate goal.

After defeating Bentley, 2-1, in the national semifinals the River Hawks lost to Bloomsburg, 5-2, in the NCAA championship match.

It’s never easy to lose a championship at any level. But the 2007 season was once again a success on so many levels for the River Hawks. And by all indications the future is as bright as ever for Shannon Hlebichuk’s squad.

For a team to enjoy the success that the 2007 River Hawks did, both veteran and younger players must step up. UML got an immediate impact from several of its freshmen. The River Hawks boasted seven Rookie of the Week winners, the most of any NE-10 team. Katie Enaire received the honor three times, while Sammy Macy and Liz Day were each honored twice.

Enaire led UML freshmen, and was second on the team, with 12 goals and 25 points. The Amesbury, Mass. native had a nine-game goal streak down the stretch and was named the 2007 NE-10 Freshman of the Year.

Day totaled 21 points on eight goals and eight assists in 22 games. Day, out of North Andover, Mass., scored the game-winning goal in overtime to send the River Hawks to the national final in the NCAA tournament.

Macy was fourth on the team in scoring with 23 points and tied for third with eight goals. The Tewksbury, Mass. native had two, two-goal games and totaled a season-best five points (1 goal, 3 assists) in a victory at AIC on October 10.

Several sophomores on the squad enjoyed solid 2007 seasons. Jaci Moulton led the River Hawks with 18 goals and 40 points. The forward from Baldwinville, Mass. opened the season with goals in four of the first five games, and had a six-game goal streak in the middle of the season. Moulton, who had a goal and an assist in the NCAA championship match, was named the NE-10 Offensive Player of the Year.

Juniors Missy Seeley, Michelle Harrington and Jill Tierney enjoyed solid campaigns for UML. Seeley chipped in with five goals and a team-best 10 assists. Harrington had four goals and four assists while playing a solid two-way game in the midfield. Tierney was third on the team in scoring with 24 points on eight goals and eight assists.

Fellow junior Jessica Ellis started the first seven games of the season and played a key role in the team’s early-season success before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

The player who led the way in both her play on the field and as the team’s captain was Jayne Vagenas. The senior defender had another outstanding season in 2007 and was named the 2007 NE-10 Defensive Player of the Year.

Vagenas played an instrumental role in UML’s defensive effort that allowed just 30 goals (1.36 per game) and posted seven shutouts in 22 games in 2007.

Vagenas, who had a career-best offensive season in 2006, started slow offensively with just two assists over the first 14 games, but finished strong with 10 points (3 goals, 4 assists) over the final eight games.

Sophomores Laura Sullivan, Ashley Smith and Kayla LeSage joined Vagenas in the back. Each played key roles in the River Hawks defensive prowess. Sullivan was second on the team with three defensive saves, one behind Vagenas who had four.

Danielle Dodier carried the way for the River Hawks in goal, playing 21 of 22 games. Dodier was 18-3 on the season with four shutouts. Freshman Amy Carbon made seven appearances in her rookie season, earning one win and one shutout.

Post-Season Awards

As with every other year in recent memory the River Hawks had several award winners in 2007.

Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk was named the 2007 Northeast-10 Coach of the Year for the fifth straight year in November. In January Hlebichuk was named the 2007 NFHCA Division II Coach of the Year for the third time in four years. Hlebichuk won her 100th game as UML’s head coach in 2007. She is 100-31 in six seasons.

Senior captain Jayne Vagenas was named the 2007 NE-10 Defensive Player of the Year, the 2007 Northeast-10 Tournament Most Valuable Player and to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.

Vagenas was also selected as a 2007 NFHCA Division II All-American, and to the NE-10 All-Conference First Team, the ECAC Division II Field Hockey All-Star squad and as a NFHCA Division II Senior All-Star. Academically Vagenas was picked for both the NE-10 and NFHCA All-Academic teams.

Katie Enaire was selected as the 2007 Northeast-10 Rookie of the Year after posting 12 goals and 25 points during her freshman campaign. Enaire was selected to the NE-10 All-Conference 2nd Team and the ECAC Division II Field Hockey All-Star squad.

Jaci Moulton was named the 2007 NE-10 Offensive Player of the Year after following up a successful freshman season with a team-leading 18 goals and 40 points. Moulton was picked for the NE-10 All-Conference 1st Team, a NFHCA Division II 2nd Team All-American, and a ECAC Division II Field Hockey All-Star.

Missy Seeley was named to the NE-10 All-Conference First Team, the NE-10 All-Academic Team, the NE-10 All-Tournament Team and the NFHCA Division II All-American First Team.

Michelle Harrington was named a Second Team NE-10 All-Conference Team member, to the NCAA All-Tournament Team and the NFHCA Division II All-American First Team.

Sophomore midfielder Molly Clay joined Vagenas and Seeley on the Northeast-10 All-Academic team.

Honoring Senior Captain Jayne Vagenas

The only member of the 2007 UMass Lowell field hockey senior class, Jayne Vagenas had a significant impact on the River Hawks during her four years in Lowell. Vagenas was a member of the 2005 team that won the NCAA championship, and played a key role in the squad winning the NE-10 tournament title each season. In addtion to the national championship in 2005, the River Hawks reached the NCAA Final Four in each of her other three seasons.

Defensively the Harwich, Mass. native helped UML post 28 shutouts during her career. Offensively, Vagenas contributed with 30 points on 10 goals and 10 assists, including six game-winning goals. Vagenas started 65 of the 78 matches she played during her career.

Career Awards/Accomplishments:

• Helped team to a 76-14 record
• 2005 National Champion
• Four-time NE-10 Tournament Champion
• Two-time NE-10 Regular Season Champion
• 2007 NE-10 Defensive Player of the Year
• 2007 NE-10 Tournament Most Valuable Player
• 2007 NCAA All-Tournament Team
• 2007 NE-10 All-Conference First Team
• 2007 Member of the NFHCA All-American First Team
• 2007 ECAC Division II Field Hockey All-Star
• 2007 NFHCA Division II Senior All-Star
• Four-time member of the NFHCA National Academic Team
• Three-time member of the NE-10 All-Academic Team
• 2006 Member of the NFHCA All-American Second Team