NEW HAVEN, Conn. (May 14, 2025) – Holy Family University women’s lacrosse player Rianna Shields has been selected as the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Student-Athlete of the Month for April 2025, CACC Commissioner Dan Mara announced today. Shields earned the award for demonstrating success on the field during the month, while also being a standout in the classroom and giving back to her community.

Shields, a senior midfielder/attack from Richboro, Pa., played in seven games during April. In that stretch she produced 25 goals, 10 assists, 21 ground balls, 15 draw controls and 11 caused turnovers as Holy Family went 4-3. She became the Tigers’ all-time goals leader during an Apr. 5 win over Felician, and scored the overtime game-winning goal against Bridgeport on Apr. 12 as HFU secured a berth in the CACC playoffs.

Shields was voted onto the 2025 All-CACC Second Team, her third career all-conference selection. She tied for eighth in the CACC in goals (46) and finished 10^th in points (67). Her 43 ground balls were good for 11^th in the conference. She owns a Tiger record 210 career goals.

Academically, Shields will graduate with a 3.70 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in history/social studies/secondary education. She has been inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma college athlete honor society and is a two-time selection to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Team. Shields has also been named to the Academic Honor Rolls of the CACC and the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association.

Shields serves as a Team IMPACT Leader, spearheading the Tigers’ involvement with their honorary teammate from the organization, Riley. She was also a clinician at Holy Family’s last two National Girls and Women in Sports Day Clinics and participated in HFU’s Martin Luther King Service Project during all four years of her career.

The CACC Student-Athlete of the Month Award is handed out from September to May each academic year. It recognizes one student-athlete from any sport active during that month.

2024-25 CACC STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE MONTH
September: Annalee Capuano, Thomas Jefferson University, Women’s Cross-Country
October: Joey Datta, Caldwell University, Men’s Cross-Country
November: Taylor Hinkle, Holy Family University, Women’s Basketball
December: Naj White, Post University, Women’s Basketball
January: Harrison Warnock, Post University, Men’s Basketball
February: Brooke Corbett, Caldwell University Women’s Basketball
March: Ashleigh Tavaska, Caldwell University Softball
April: Rianna Shields, Holy Family University Women’s Lacrosse

The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is celebrating the 20^th anniversary of its affiliation with NCAA Division II. Conference institutions compete for championships in 18 sports – eight for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 12 members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.