▁with ▁six ▁home ▁games ▁at ▁the ▁Ts ong as ▁Center . ▁They ▁were ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁America ▁East ▁Conference . ▁ ▁The ▁season ▁marked ▁the ▁River ▁Haw ks ' ▁first ▁full ▁season ▁as ▁a ▁Division ▁I ▁school ▁after ▁a ▁four - year ▁transition ▁period ▁from ▁Division ▁II ▁to ▁Division ▁I . ▁According ly , ▁they ▁were ▁el ig ible ▁for ▁post season ▁play ▁including ▁the ▁America ▁East ▁Tournament . ▁They ▁finished ▁the ▁season ▁ 1 2 – 1 8 , ▁ 6 – 1 0 ▁in ▁America ▁East ▁play ▁to ▁finish ▁in ▁a ▁tie ▁for ▁sixth ▁place . ▁They ▁lost ▁in ▁the ▁quarter final s ▁of ▁the ▁America ▁East ▁Tournament ▁to ▁U M BC . ▁ ▁Pre vious ▁season ▁The ▁River ▁Haw ks ▁finished ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 6 – 1 7 ▁season ▁ 1 1 – 2 0 , ▁ 5 – 1 1 ▁in ▁American ▁East ▁play ▁to ▁finish ▁in ▁sixth ▁place . ▁U M ass ▁Low ell ▁was ▁in ▁the ▁fourth ▁and ▁final ▁year ▁of ▁a ▁transition ▁to ▁Division ▁I ▁and , ▁thus , ▁in el ig ible ▁for ▁the ▁post season , ▁including ▁the ▁America ▁East ▁Tournament . ▁ ▁Off season ▁ ▁Depart ures ▁ ▁In coming ▁trans fers ▁▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁incoming ▁rec ruits ▁▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁incoming ▁rec ruits ▁ ▁Pres e ason ▁ ▁In ▁a ▁poll ▁by ▁the ▁conference ’ s ▁nine ▁head ▁coach es ▁( who ▁were ▁not ▁allowed ▁to ▁pick ▁their ▁own ▁team ) ▁at ▁the ▁America ▁East ▁media