(Courtesy GoRiverHawks.com)

LOUISVILLE – It is only fitting that the UMass Lowell field hockey team completed its own triple crown while in Louisville, the home of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. In addition to their two previous championships this season – Northeast-10 Regular Season and Tournament – the River Hawks can now add NCAA National Champions to their list of accomplishments.

No. 1 UMass Lowell completed a perfect 24-0 season, the first undefeated National Champions in school history, with a 1-0 victory over No. 2 Shippensburg (21-2) in the NCAA Final played in Trager Stadium on the campus of the University of Louisville as part of the NCAA DII Fall Championships Festival on Saturday afternoon.

One shot was all UMass Lowell needed to take home the second National Title in program history, as senior midfielder Liz Day (North Andover, Mass.) recorded the only shot on goal for the River Hawks and lone goal of the game. The River Hawk defense and goalkeeper Melanie Hopkins (Harwich, Mass.) held down the fort for the rest of the tilt, keeping Shippensburg scoreless to preserve the win.

(Courtesy GoRiverHawks.com)