Nov 16, 2005
By BARRY SCANLON, Sun Staff
Lowell Sun
LOWELL -- National champions.
The realization set in for Joanna DaLuze when she received "calls from cousins I didn't even know I had."
National champions.
To Josselyn Mroz, who describes herself as an unemotional person, it means "crying all day because I'm so happy."
National champions.
The accomplishment was the "perfect way to end my field hockey career," according to Courtney Hill, the program's all-time leading scorer.
National champions.
For Taylor Kloss, it meant a futile attempt at describing her feelings in her journal during the nine-hour bus ride back from Shippensburg, Pa., where UMass Lowell -- led by their four senior captains -- had defeated Bloomsburg, 2-1, in double overtime for the NCAA Division 2 national field hockey championship Sunday.
"To be part of history is amazing," Kloss said. "It feels good to come home and bring home a national championship."
DaLuze, a Harwich native, cemented her status in UML lore when she scored the game-winning goal. Twenty-four hours later, her smile couldn't have been any wider, even after a five-hour sleep.
"I couldn't sleep. Everyone kept calling me," she said, overjoyed that the guy behind the counter at 7-11 offered a hearty congratulations yesterday. "It was the craziest thing. It was a once-in-a-lifetime feeling."
The River Hawks (20-3), who defeated Stonehill in the national semifinals, arrived back on campus at 2:30 yesterday morning.
After four games, when they were 2-2, a national title seemed a silly thing to even think about, especially since UML had graduated five seniors and four starters from the 2004 team which had fallen in the national semis, one year after the River Hawks lost to Bloomsburg in the national final.
"I don't think people thought we were going to go far," DaLuze said.
UML head coach Shannon Hlebichuk credits the leadership of her senior captains -- DaLuze; Mroz, a defender from Salisbury; Hill, a right wing from Newburyport; and Kloss, a midfielder from Georgetown -- with carrying the team to the improbable championship.
Other key components to the championship drive were junior forward Sara Hohenberger (25 goals, 63 points) and junior goalie Nicole Staiti (20-3 record, 6 shutouts, 1.10 GAA).
"Being back on campus, it was like, Wow, we did it,' " said Hill, very proud of the fact that her team became the first UML female squad to win a national title. "I think that's awesome. It's always good to be the first. I'm speechless."
Yesterday afternoon, Hlebichuk, DaLuze, Mroz, Hill and Kloss were walking over to Cushing Field to have their picture taken when members of the men's track program gave them a round of applause.
Trying to describe what they felt when DaLuze's shot slipped into the Bloomsburg cage proved to be as difficult as it was for UML opponents to get the better of the River Hawks this fall.
"Right afterward I was just in shock," Mroz said. "It didn't really hit me until we were watching Bloom get their runner-up award. I was like, We did it!' "
Sunday was the thrill of victory. Two weeks ago was the agony of defeat when, during the NE-10 Conference championship game, UML's overtime goal was disallowed due to a clock controversy, allowing Stonehill to win minutes later.
"It was depressing," Kloss said. "You just had so many emotions."
Hlebichuk, although reeling emotionally, tried to raise the spirits of her players after the stunning loss to Stonehill.
"We were devastated. But I said to the team, If this is the worst thing that will happen to you in your life, you'll live a great life,' " UML's coach said.
A rally for the team will be held on campus Thursday. Hometown newspapers from across the region are doing stories. The River Hawks are also likely to be honored before an upcoming Lowell Lock Monsters' game. Heady stuff for field hockey athletes who don't play a glamour' sport.
"I think this will be their 15 minutes of fame," Hlebichuk said. "It's such a great group of people. It's such a great accomplishment for 22 young women who absolutely deserve it."
Barry Scanlon's e-mail address is bscanlon@lowellsun.com
