Rounding out her sixth season with the Huskies, graduate student midfielder and defender Lauren Rowe recorded a beyond-impressive field hockey career during her time at Northeastern. Moving to Boston from England as a freshman, she embraced the change in environment to drive her team to success.
Her leadership as co-captain and respect from teammates is evident. Graduate student and co-captain Caroline Sweeney, who joined the team one year after Rowe, emphasized this. “I found out very quickly, no matter what age or who our teammates are, they always look to Rowe, both on and off the field,” Sweeney said.
Rowe has always been a role model on the team, her coaches and teammates said. Her dedication and drive shines through in her career statistics and regard from people in the field hockey program.
She set the precedent of hard work and success very early on. Rowe was named CAA Rookie of the Year in her 2019 freshman season after tallying the most goals by a freshman in Northeastern history as well as being tied for most CAA goals with a total of 16.
Her repertoire continued to build over her time with the team. During her sophomore season, 2020-21, she led the CAA in attempted shots at 56 and landed second in the CAA for goals with a total of five. During her 2021 junior season she was the only player in the CAA to notch double digits in both goals and assists. She did not compete during the 2022 season due to an injury but came back strong as a graduate student in 2023 — being named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year and reaching 100 career points. During the 2024 season, she was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week for back to back weeks Sept. 30 and Oct. 7 and tallied 10 goals and 11 assists.
This season’s accolade came after her incredible defensive and offensive performances this season. Rowe played an impressive 1,045 total minutes this season, starting during all 19 of Northeastern’s competitions. She recorded a total of 31 notable points throughout the season. Her impressive abilities were shown through her season highs of 14 shots, six of them on goal, against University of California Davis, three goals against University of Massachusetts Lowell Sept. 29 and three assists against Boston University Oct. 13.
What is the secret to her success? Rowe reflected on the immense importance of growth and never being satisfied. “I think taking bits of knowledge each year and the best things from each team and building on that has been really important to grow and get to where we are as a team today,” she said.
Her hard work and passion for the sport and the team is evident, and head coach Pam Spuehler was the first to admit it.
“She’s the hardest worker I’ve ever been around in my entire 15 year coaching career,” Spuehler said. “Everything she does, on the field and off the field, is to better herself and the team. She’s always the first one at any practice, at any lift. She’s always the first one there to set standards and expectations for the rest of the girls.”
When Rowe was named co-captain alongside Sweeney in 2022, she used her position to bring the team to the next level. With changes in coaching staff and immense player turnover, Rowe stepped up.
“She takes on a role as not only a player, but also a player coach,” Sweeney said. “Every day we come out and we learn as much from her as we do from the coaches.”
The coaching staff views her in a similar light. “Rowe has been a great extension of the coaching staff,” Spuehler said. “She’s been a pivotal person to go between the team and the coaching staff. It’s great to have that connection with someone trustworthy, honest, and willing to put the team first.”
Her success on the field speaks for itself, but her unbridled discipline and dedication is what took her field hockey career to the next level.
“Both on and off the field, I value being diligent with what I do on a day-to-day basis,” Rowe said. “The habits we have as athletes are really important. That’s something I try and kind of lead by example with.”
Through her six seasons with the team, Rowe has found success both on and off the pitch. She has been given the honor of All-CAA First Team and CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll during all of the seasons that she competed with the team.
During Rowe’s impressive three seasons as co-captain, she has dedicated herself to the team.
“She takes the captain role holistically, it isn’t necessarily that when she steps onto the pitch, she suddenly takes on that role and steps up. That role is seen throughout all aspects of her life,” Sweeney said. “Rowe has helped create the culture that we have strived for over the past five years playing together.”
All in all, Rowe’s incredible skills as a field hockey player and her deeper passion and dedication to the program has made all the difference for the team. “We have high expectations and goals as a team, and I really try to embody that every day, on and off the pitch,” Rowe said.
While the Huskies were eliminated from division play Nov. 8 in the semi-finals facing the University of Delaware, the team saw its most successful season since Rowe joined the program. The Huskies reached five conference wins for the first time during Rowe’s time on the team.
The all-encompassing nature of her personality brought success to both her and the program throughout her career as a student athlete at Northeastern.
“She’s a competitor. She’s a winner. And she’s so big-hearted,” Sweeney said.
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