BOSTON, Mass. – The history of women's athletics at UMass Boston is not a long one, but in the five decades the university has offered female collegiate sports, the mark left by the unbelievable student-athletes has not been forgotten. As part of the 50-year anniversary of Title IX, Beacons Athletics will be honoring its history highlighting some of the most influential administrators, coaches, and moments in the department's history.
With Kit Clark laying the foundation and with the appointment of Charlie Titus as the university's first Director of Athletics, it was time to get to work on starting UMB's first varsity programs.
Led by the Hall of Famer Alfred Harris, women's basketball was the first women's program to wear the blue and white. That team made their intercollegiate debut in the fall of 1980, and posted four-straight winning seasons under coach Harris.
The softball program became the first spring sport to compete on the harbor campus on the women's side. Jack Whitol guided the program to an 8-7 record in its rookie campaign.
It was also in the early 80's that UMass Boston erupted on the national stage, with the women's indoor and outdoor track and field teams securing four national titles. Led by Olympic class athletes like Genesia Eddins, and hall of fame head coach Sherman Hart, the Beacons stand as the first program in NCAA Division III history to win both the indoor and outdoor crown in the same academic year.
In 1981, Tricia Scorza was charged with leading the first-ever volleyball program. One year later under the leadership of Mary Ann Sowell, the Beacons posted the program's first-ever winning record (14-5), and the first-ever postseason tournament appearance by any women's team, as they competed in the M.A.I.A.W State Tournament.
It would be over a decade before another women's team was added to the Beacons line-up. In 1995 UMass Boston welcomed both women's soccer and women's tennis. The women's soccer program was guided by hall of famer Myles Berry, while on the court it was the job of Amanda Church to lead the Beacons in their first season.
In 2001, the women's cross country team competed in their first official season.
In 2003-04 a group of hard skating student-athletes competed in the first women's hockey season. Laura Schuler, who despite coaching just one season, gave the Beacons their first winning record (13-12-1) and wins over top Division III programs.
In 2024, UMass Boston will welcome a new member to its family, with the addition of women's lacrosse. Under the direction of Vice Chancellor for Athletics Dr. Jacqueline Schuman, the Beacons will welcome their 19
th varsity sport, and will begin a new chapter of women's athletics on the harbor campus.
WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS IN UMASS BOSTON HISTORY
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2009 Volleyball Little East Conference Champion
2010 Volleyball Little East Conference Champion
2011 Volleyball Little East Conference Champion
2012 Women's Soccer Little East Conference Champion
2012 Volleyball Little East Conference Champion
2013 Volleyball Little East Conference Champion
2015 Volleyball Little East Conference Champion
2016 Volleyball Little East Conference Champion
2016 Women's Ice Hockey New England Hockey Conference Champion
2017 Softball Little East Conference Champion
2017 Volleyball Little East Conference Champion
2018 Women's Basketball Little East Conference Champion
2018 Softball Little East Conference Champion
2019 Volleyball Little East Conference Champion
2019 Women's Soccer Little East Conference Champion
2021 Volleyball Little East Conference Champion
2022 Women's Tennis Little East Conference Champion
NCAA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
2010 Volleyball NCAA East Region Champion
2012 Volleyball NCAA East Region Champion
2013 Volleyball NCAA East Region Champion
NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
1985 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Champion
1986 NCAA Division III Indoor & Outdoor Track and Field National Champion
1987 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Champion
2018 NCAA Division III Indoor & Outdoor Track and Field National Champion
