It was a terrific story.
A local men’s basketball player overcomes a serious injury, transfers to a college near his home and produces an outstanding season despite playing at the Division 1 level for the first time.
But the next chapter in Darrel Yepdo’s career will be written some 200 miles north of UMass Lowell.
The Dracut native elected to enter the NCAA transfer portal after starring this past winter at UML, located a couple of 3-pointers from Yepdo’s Dracut home.
The 6-foot guard quickly received interest from the University of Vermont, a UML rival and perennial America East Conference powerhouse, and that’s where he’ll play his senior season.
Yepdo was in the starting lineup for all of UMass Lowell’s 33 games during the 2025-26 season. He led the River Hawks with 107 assists, placed third with 25 steals and hauled down 103 rebounds. He averaged 10.3 points per game, fourth best on the team.
He scored in double figures 20 times, including a season-high 22-point performance against Bryant. He scored 17 points to help lead UML to a America East playoff win over UAlbany.
Yepdo began his collegiate career in Vermont at Saint Michael’s, where he shined for two seasons before missing the entire 2024-25 season due to injury.
Men’s hockey
Tyler Tsoukalas won’t have to travel far to play college hockey.
The rugged Billerica native will suit up for veteran head coach Dean Fuller at Fitchburg State University in the fall. A 6-3, 209-pound right-shot forward, Tsoukalas will bring his physical style to the Wallace Civic Center.
He played in the North American Hockey League this past season. In 38 games for the Amarillo Wranglers and Elmira Aviators, Tsoukalas scored four goals and six points, while racking up 93 penalty minutes.
He played for several New England teams before departing for Canada for the 2024-25 campaign, suiting up for the Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. In 41 regular-season games for the Dukes, he compiled 5-14-19 totals.
Field hockey
UMass Lowell head coach Shannon LeBlanc has announced her team’s captains for the 2026 season.
Rising seniors Christina Wagner (Cicero, N.Y.) and Florine Gerrits (Amstelveen, Netherlands) have been selected for the leadership role for the first time in their careers.
Wagner, a computer science major, is a three-time NFHCA National Academic Squad honoree. The midfielder appeared in all 18 games for the River Hawks, making 11 starts while recording one goal and three assists for five points.
Gerrits, a business administration major, is also a two-time NFHCA National Academic Squad honoree. She played in all 18 games last season, earning 17 starts. The midfielder totaled two goals and five assists, including a season-high two assists in a win at Dartmouth.
Softball
The UMass Lowell softball team closed out its regular season slate at America East opponent Binghamton, falling 2-1 in a pitcher’s duel and then 9-1 in game two in Vestal, N.Y.
Sophomore Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) led the River Hawks (24-25, 11-10 AE) offensively in the opener, going 2-for-2 with a double and the lone RBI. Junior Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) added three hits across the two games, while sophomore Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.) went 2-for-2 with an RBI in game two.
Freshman Ella Van Alstyne (Beacon Falls, Conn.) also recorded a hit in the second game while striking out four in the circle.
Baseball
UMass Lowell lost its fifth straight game, dropping an 11-1 decision to Stony Brook during America East action in Stony Brook, N.Y.
The River Hawks (16-25, 6-12 AE) were outhit 14-7. UML’s lone run came in the top of the sixth when catcher Scott Donahue (Medfield) singled to right field to plate Brayden Cali (Taunton).
First baseman Sean O’Leary (Foxboro) went 2-for-4. Taking the loss was Alfred Mucciarone (Franklin), who allowed four hits and three earned runs in three innings on the mound.
Men’s lacrosse
Top-seeded Endicott fell to second-seeded Western New England, 10-7, in the Conference of New England championship game in Beverly.
Scoring a each goal for Endicott were Adam Priest (Billerica) and Manny Marshall (Chelmsford).
