LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Women's Lacrosse Head Coach
Carissa Medeiros has announced the addition of 10 newcomers who will join her squad for the 2017 season.
The River Hawks welcome Alexis Knoblock (Cicero, N.Y.), Kyra Lowenberg (Amherst, N.H.), Audrey Brown (Boulder, Co.), Keeley Henry (Horsham, Pa.), Nicole Sheintul (Baldwin, N.Y.), Kendra Nolan (Oak Ridge, N.J.), Samantha Lee (Pelham, N.Y.), Cameron McKelvin (Westminster, Md.), Hana Caster (North Attleboro, Mass.) and Brianna Spinnato (Baltimore, Md.).
"We are so excited about our incoming class of freshmen this year," said Medeiros. "They represent lacrosse programs all across the country, and will bring with them a wealth of experience and uniquely different styles of play that will undoubtedly add to the depth of our squad."
RIVER HAWK WOMEN'S LACROSSE PLAYER PROFILES
Name: Alexis Knoblock
Hometown/High School: Cicero, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse
Position: Defense
Height: 5'2
Club Team: Central New York Elite
Major: Business Administration
High School: Four-year varsity player at Cicero North Syracuse … two-time NYS Class A Section 3 All-Star … four-time NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete … two-time High Honor Roll … Central New York Elite Lacrosse Bronze Medal Winner… 2015 FIL U18 World Cup Festival Edinburgh, Scotland … AIST Team USA U18 UK Lax Fest Participant … Northstar Invitational Champion … Elite 120 Champion.
Personal: Daughter of Dan and Shelly … has an older sister… nickname is Lexxi… when she isn't watching Pretty Little Liars, she enjoys reading, painting, and pottery … the New York Yankees are her favorite sports team … lists Derek Jeter as well as her mom and dad as her biggest sports influences … majoring in business administration and minoring in management.
Coach Medeiros on Knoblock: "Lexxi was a late addition to our class but we are excited to have added someone with her lacrosse pedigree and experience. She is small-statured, but an aggressive defender who has played with and against some serious DI talent over her high school career."
Name: Kyra Lowenberg
Hometown/High School: Amherst, N.J./Bishop Guertin High School
Position: Attack
Height: 5'6
Club Team: Granite State Elite
Major: Undeclared
High School: Four-year varsity lacrosse player at Bishop Guertin … named captain senior year … led her team to the NH Division I State Championship Final as a senior … won the NH Division I state Championship as a junior … played soccer all four years of high school.
Personal: Daughter to Randy and Lara … has a younger sister … loves hanging out with her family and friends … enjoys hiking and going to the beach … favorite professional teams include the Red Sox and Patriots … David Ortiz, Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady are listed as her favorite athletes … aspires to be a physician's assistant following graduation.
Coach Medeiros on Lowenberg: "Kyra is a very skilled attacker with a great stick and powerful shot. Her field sense and ability to put the ball in the net will be an invaluable addition to our offensive unit."
Name: Audrey Brown
Hometown/High School: Boulder, Co./Boulder High School
Position: Attack/ Midfield
Height: 5'8
Club Team: Team 180
Major: Sociology
High School: Four-year varsity lacrosse player for Boulder High … state Championship finalists freshman and sophomore year … led her team to the state semifinals as a junior … was a member of the Jewish club.
Personal: Daughter of Ben and Angela … has a total of six siblings, three brothers and three sisters … sister Sarah plays lacrosse at Colorado University … loves singing and baking … favorite TV shows include Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl and Friday Night Lights … favorite professional team is the Denver Broncos … lists Serena Williams as her favorite athlete … hopes to travel after college.
Coach Medeiros on Brown: "Audrey is really skilled at the draw and eager to learn and be coached. She is great kid and has a tremendous lacrosse IQ. We anticipate her being able to add a lot of depth to our midfield."
Name: Keeley Henry
Hometown/High School: Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham High School
Position: Defense
Height: 5'4
Club Team: Phantastix
Major: Engineering
High School: Played four years of varsity lacrosse and field hockey at Hatboro-Horsham … named captain her senior season in lacrosse … two-time All-League Lacrosse selection, junior and senior year … helped lead her team two back-to-back conference championships as a freshman and sophomore … State Semifinalist as a junior in field hockey … named captain, All-League Team honoree, and defensive MVP as a senior in field hockey … member of the VP Advisory Board junior and senior year … National Honor Society member.
Personal: Daughter of William and Ellen … has two siblings … enjoys hanging out with friends and hiking … favorite show is Grey's Anatomy … favorite team is the Philadelphia Eagles … favorite athlete is Ryan Howard … majoring in engineering.
Coach Medeiros on Henry: "Keeley helped lead her team defensively during her successful high school career and will bring a strong aggressive defensive background with her to UMass Lowell."
Name: Nicole Sheintul
Hometown/High School: Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin High School
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5'3
Club Team: Long Island
Major: Physics
High School: Four-year varsity player at Baldwin High … received Girls Lacrosse All-County Honorable Mention and Newsday Top 100 Girls on Long Island as a senior … named MVP and captain as a senior … selected to the Brine National Lacrosse Classic Team Long Island, Cage NYS All-American Lacrosse Team and Girls Lacrosse All-Conference Team junior year … named to the Nationals 2016-2017 Graduate Class Team, and All-Conference Team as a sophomore … tallied a career-high 171 saves during her sophomore season … graduated high school ranked in the top 10 percent of her class … National Honor Society Member … graduated with High Honors.
Personal: Daughter of Michael and Carol … has an older sister … enjoys performing/listening to music, reading, movies/film, TV, and hanging out with friends … favorite TV shows include Game of Thrones, The Office, Parks and Recreation, The Big Bang Theory, and Friends … favorite sports teams include the New York Rangers, New York Giants, and New York Knicks … favorite athletes include Henrik Lundqvist, Devon Wills and Ryan McDonough…. majoring in Physics.
Coach Medeiros on Sheintul: "Nicole is a stealthy goalkeeper with quick reactions and good awareness. She is an active and poised goalie with a high level of determination and she will fit in with our current goalie squad very well."
Name: Kendra Nolan
Hometown/High School: Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Township High School
Position: Midfield
Height: 5'8
Club Team: Steps Elite
Major: Fine Arts
High School: Four-year varsity player at Jefferson Township … named MVP of her lacrosse team junior and senior year … New Jersey State Senior All-Star Team … three-time All-Herald First Team … two-time All Freedom Conference First Team … First Team All-League as a sophomore … named field hockey captain … received Most Improved Player Award in field hockey … field hockey First Team All-Conference selection … NJAC All-Academic Team … also ran Indoor Track … Honor Roll … National French Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Julia and David … has two older siblings … sister Darby plays lacrosse for Manhattan College … loves to snowboard … favorite show is The Office … lists her sister Darby as her favorite athlete … wants to work in the art industry one day.
Coach Medeiros on Nolan: "Kendra is a quiet, but fierce competitor and possess a ton of overall talent. Her specialty will be controlling the draw, but she has the ability to make an immediate impact on attack as well, since her stick skills are extremely reliable and she is a great cutter."
Name: Samantha Lee
Hometown/High School: Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial High School
Position: Defense/ Midfield
Height: 5'5
Club Team: House of Sports
Major: Undeclared
High School: Two-time varsity lacrosse captain … amassed 36 career goals and 46 career assists in lacrosse … played two years of varsity soccer … two-time Honor Roll honoree … three-time High Honor Roll selection.
Personal: Daughter of Duncan and Nisa … has three younger siblings … father Duncan played soccer at Bucknell … nickname is Sammy Lee … enjoys cooking, baking and paddle boarding … favorite TV shows include One Tree Hill, The Vampire Diaries, The Office, and Zoo … lists the New York Giants and NY Rangers as her favorite professional teams … favorite athletes include Taylor Cummings and Ryan McDonough … aspires to have a career in sports medicine.
Coach Medeiros on Lee: "Sam is a hard-working natural leader who has the ability to make an immediate impact on the field for us. She is a fierce defender with the stick skills of a high attacker and the athleticism of a midfielder. We look forward to her coming in and helping to raise our level of play very quickly."
Name: Cameron McKelvin
Hometown/High School: Westminster, Md./Westminster High School
Position: Attack/ Midfield
Height: 5'4
Club Team: M&D
Major: Undeclared Business
High School: Four- year varsity lacrosse player at Westminster … played attack, midfield, and defense during her career … lacrosse captain senior year … Club National Championship winner as a sophomore … distinguished honor roll all four years.
Personal: Daughter of Mike and Sandy … has a sister, Jordan … nickname is Cam … enjoys beach trips, swimming and shopping … you can find her watching Gossip Girl … favorite professional team is the Baltimore Ravens … favorite athlete is Ray Lewis … hopes become a college lacrosse coach.
Coach Medeiros on McKelvin: "Cameron is a versatile player who has the ability to contribute on both ends of the field. Hailing from Maryland, we expect her to be extremely competitive and easily handle the transition to Division I."
Name: Hana Caster
Hometown/High School: North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro
Position: Midfield
Height: 5'4
Club Team: Mass Elite
Major: Exercise Physiology
High School: Four-year varsity player at North Attleboro … set program records for career points (373), goals (225), assists (148) and assists in a single season (49) … tallied 69 goals and 49 assists senior year … four-time Hockomock Lacrosse All-Star … HockomockSports.com MVP ... led league in assists and total points as a senior and junior … helped lead her team to their first playoff win in school history for as a senior … named to Challenge Cup as 1 of 19 to represent Massachusetts vs. Connecticut … won Athletic Cup as Top Senior Female Athlete (NAHS) … Honor Roll student … perfect attendance throughout high school.
Personal: Daughter of Jeff and Marcia … has two older siblings … mom played softball at Nichols College and dad played baseball at Nichols College … nicknames include Hannie and Han … likes going out to eat and playing with dogs … favorite TV shows are Big Brother and Grey's Anatomy … favorite pro teams include the Patriots and Red Sox … biggest sports influence is Mia Hamm … looks forward to playing on Wicked Blue Turf.
Coach Medeiros on Caster: "As a coach, it's always great to find raw talent and help guide the development of a student-athlete. Hana is going to be one of those kids who gets exponentially better every day and will come out of nowhere to make a huge impact on our team, particularly in transition."
Name: Brianna Spinnato
Hometown/High School: Baltimore, Md./Catonsville High School
Position: Defense
Height: 5'8
Club Team: Heroes Club Lacrosse
Major: Nursing
High School: Four-year varsity lacrosse player … three-year varsity field hockey player … named captain of both her lacrosse and field hockey team … four-time Class 4A Regional qualifier for lacrosse and field hockey … selected to be on Senior All-Star field hockey and lacrosse teams … received the All-Academic Award and Minds in Motion Award for both field hockey and lacrosse … member of the National Honor Society junior and senior year … member of the Spanish Honor Society sophomore through and senior year … member of Spanish club junior year ... Interned/volunteered at Sinai hospital in Baltimore senior year … received the Good Character Award Freshman year … selected to be a school leader (Comet Culture Leader) at Catonsville High school senior year.
Personal: Daughter of Michael and Kathleen … has three brothers … nicknamed Bri … in her spare time she is a life guard and swim instructor … lists Friends and One Tree Hill as her favorite TV shows … Baltimore Ravens is her favorite professional team … claims Misty May Treanor and Michael Phelps as her favorite athletes … favorite sports memory is scoring five goals to help the Catonsville High School lacrosse team win Regionals in 2014 … member of the Rollingwood swim team for 13 years … hopes to travel the world with a nursing degree after graduation.
Coach Medeiros on Spinnato: "Bri has a tremendous amount of potential to be a great collegiate defender. Her size and strength is amongst the best on the team, and her successful high school and club experience will certainly help her stand out as a leader in her class."
