LOWELL, Mass. – Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc has announced the addition of six newcomers to the UMass Lowell field hockey roster for the upcoming season.
The River Hawks will welcome Christina Calandra (Manchester, Mass.), Kathryn Guertin (Holden, Mass.), Marie Oliemans (Driebergen, Netherlands), Karli Penrod (Seaford, Delaware), Sydney Stuhl (Sinking Spring, Pa.) and Christina Wagner (Cicero, N.Y.) in 2023.
“We are very excited about this incoming class,” said LeBlanc. “They are academically motivated and they are athletically driven. They understand our culture of excellence and I am confident they will play important roles in our successes, both on the field and in the classroom. We are looking forward to a fantastic career with each of them, as they all will bring something uniquely positive to our program.”
RIVER HAWK PLAYER PROFILES
Name: Christina Calandra
Hometown/High School: Manchester, Mass./Manchester-Essex Regional
Previous School: Maryland
Class: Senior
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-6
Club Team: Seacoast United
Major: Masters of Business Administration
AT MARYLAND (2020-22): Played three seasons with the Terps, starting 12 of 21 career games with a .731 save percentage and a 0.95 goals against average … appeared in 16 games, making 12 starts in 2022 … collected her first career shutout in a 1-0 victory against Stanford on Aug. 29, 2022 … tallied a career-high six saves against No. 4 Northwestern in the 2022 Big Ten Tournament Semifinal … three-time NFHCA National Academic Squad selection … two-time Academic All-Big Ten … 2022 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Manchester-Essex and two-time team captain … carried a career save percentage of .895 with 49 career shutouts and 239 career saves … four-time Cape Ann League Champions with a career team record of 70-3-8 … Two-time Cape Ann League First-Team All-Star … named 2018 Cape Ann Player of the Year and Senior Best of 60 Game participant … 2018 Northeast Regional Team at Futures … 2017 Gloucester Daily Times Female Fall Sports All-Star … selected as an All-Scholastic Athlete by both the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald … named to the Seacoast United U-19 Premier Team three times and the Elite Team in 2018 … Regional Club Championship team member in all four years … her club team advanced to the 2018 National Club Championship … also lettered in lacrosse and indoor track.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Christopher and Rebecca … has two older siblings (Caisi and Lillian) … lists hiking and being outdoors as her favorite hobbies … calls Game of Thrones and Schitt’s Creek her favorite TV shows … the Boston Bruins are her favorite professional sports team … lists Megan Rapinoe among her favorite athletes … chose to attend UMass Lowell because she was ready to come back home.
Name: Kathryn Guertin
Hometown/High School: Holden, Mass./Wachusett Regional
Class: Freshman
Position: Back
Height: 5-4
Club Team: Cape Ann FHC
Major: Criminal Justice
HIGH SCHOOL: Letterwinner at Wachusett Regional … senior captain … two-time All-New England Second Team selection and team MVP … two-time Mid Watch A First Team All-Star … Best of 60 Senior All-Star … named a Telegram & Gazette Super Team All-Star … selected to the … helped her team make it to the Massachusetts State Final Four … totaled six goals, including four game-winners, and two assists in her final season … won the U-19 NIT Championship with her club team … Nexus Championship selection … placed fourth at the RCC qualifier … qualified for both U19 and U16 NITs … member of the National Honor Society … NFHCA High School National Academic Award.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Jeffrey and Christina … has one younger sister (Elizabeth) … father, Jeff, played hockey and baseball at Worcester State … enjoys going to the gym and the beach, and hanging out with friends in her free time … calls Gossip Girl her favorite TV show … the Boston Bruins are her favorite professional sports team … David Pastrnak and Erin Matson are her favorite professional sports figures … chose to attend UMass Lowell for the great criminal justice program, and the energy and family she felt from the field hockey team.
Name: Marie Oliemans
Hometown/High School: Driebergen, Netherlands/Revius Lyceum Doorn
Class: Freshman
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-8
Club Team: SCHC Bilthoven
Major: Business Administration
HIGH SCHOOL: Ended in first place in the pre-competition with her club, SCHC, and qualified for the highest league in the country … the previous year, she helped her club, Phoenix, play at the highest national level and defeat the reigning national champions … during her sophomore year, she was the captain her club team, Shinty … finished third in a school tournament as a freshman.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Bas and Valérie … has two sisters (Julia and Anne) … spends her free time hanging out with friends … lists Brooklyn 99 as her favorite TV show … the Dutch National Field Hockey Team is her favorite sports team and Pirmin Blaak is her favorite sports figure … chose to attend UMass Lowell for the amazing field hockey program and coaches, and because of the great academic opportunities.
Name: Karli Penrod
Hometown/High School: Seaford, Del./Sussex Technical
Class: Freshman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-3
Club Team: Georgetown
Major: Business Administration
HIGH SCHOOL: Letterwinner at Sussex Technical … named an All-State First Team selection as a senior … two time All-Conference First Team honoree … Honor Roll student.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Dan and Jamie … has three siblings (Haley, Madison and Dylan) … spends her time away from athletics working … lists Outer Banks as her favorite TV show … the Baltimore Ravens are her favorite professional sports team … calls Kobe Bryant her favorite sports figure … chose to attend UMass Lowell for the amazing academic opportunities, the atmosphere each and every time she’s on campus, and for how the team was so welcoming and made her feel right at home.
Name: Sydney Stuhl
Hometown/High School: Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson
Class: Freshman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-2
Club Team: Xcalibur
Major: Nursing
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Wilson … helped lead her team to the 2022 County Championship and PA State Championship game, finishing with 24-3-1 record … two-time BCIAA County selection … received the 2022 All-State Award … two-time All-State Academic Honors/NFHCA National Academic Squad … helped her team win the 2019 State Championship … also played lacrosse … member of the National Honor Society … High Honor Roll student … member of the Mental Health Council and Student Government.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Chris and Vivian … has one sibling (Dominick) … father, Chris, played football and baseball at Delaware Valley … enjoys spending time at the beach, shopping and watching Philadelphia sports teams … her favorite TV shows are Outer Banks and Grey’s Anatomy … calls the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies her favorite professional sports teams … names Jalen Hurts and Simone Biles as her favorite sports figures … chose to attend UMass Lowell for the amazing coaches, welcoming players and team culture, in addition to the beautiful campus, facilities and the academic opportunities.
Name: Christina Wagner
Hometown/High School: Cicero, N.Y./Cicero – North Syracuse
Class: Freshman
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Height: 5-5
Club Team: RNY Field Hockey Club
Major: Engineering Physics
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year varsity starter at Cicero – North Syracuse … two-time team captain … named to the All-State Tournament Team and nominated for Section III Field Hockey Player of the Year as a senior … four-time Section 3 First Team, Section 3 All-State Team and Section 3 All-Star Team … two-time All-League First Team … totaled 17 goals and 17 assists as a senior, helping to lift her team to the Section 3 Championship, Regional Championship … NYSPHSAA runners up … logged a career-high 21 goals with 14 assists as a junior … CNS Rookie of the Year and CNS Offensive Player of the Year … High Honor Roll student.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Roger and Pamela … has five siblings (Kate, RJ, Jamie, Ally and Kyle) … sister, Kate, played soccer at Roberts Wesleyan … sisters, Jamie and Ally, played field hockey at SUNY New Paltz … hobbies include skiing, baking, painting and bouldering … lists Friends as her favorite TV show … the Detroit Red Wings are her favorite professional sports team and Erin Matson is her favorite sports figure … chose to attend UMass Lowell for the amazing atmosphere of the team, as well as the awesome academic opportunities available.
link