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UMass Lowell, ranked No. 5 in the latest national poll, visits No. 1 Long Island University Post Wednesday at 3:00 in a battle of Division II top 25 teams at Robert Blitz Field.

In a match of unbeatens, LIU Post brings a 11-0 record (6-0 in the East Coast Conference) into the match while UMass Lowell is off to its best start in its modern era with a 10-0-1 clip (9-0-0 NE-10). The River Hawks sole blemish was a season-opening 1-1 deadlock at home against Dowling.

UMass Lowell came in at No. 5 when the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II Poll was released Tuesday, marking its highest perch ever (the previous was No. 7 at the conclusion of the 2003 season which saw the River Hawks advance to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal).

 “I think it's just another game for us, a good test to see where we are right now,” said head coach Christian Figueroa, in his second season. “If we win, we will still need to find ways to improve. We still have tough games coming up. If we lose, we just have to find our deficiencies and improve them.”

LIU Post has compiled 36 goals to opponents' 11 this season, an average of 3.27 to 1.00. The Pioneers scoring is well spread, with leader Eivind Austboe, a sophomore forward, with 8 goals and three assists (19 points). Junior F Cemil Turan has chipped in 6-3-15 while freshman M Per Forgaard has added 4-4-12.

Twenty of LIU Posts 29 players on its roster are European, from the likes of England, Scotland, Sweden, Norway and Holland.

“They're a very disciplined group that plays well together,” said Figueroa. “Their experience shows on the field. They've got some size in the midfield and up top. But what impressed me most was their work rate all over the field.”

UMass Lowell, in the midst of a stretch of six away matches in its final eight regular season dates, has scored 30 goals and conceded 14, an average of 2.73 to 1.27.

Sophomore F Homero Morais (Somerville, Mass.) leads the River Hawks with 9-4-22 while senior M Bruno Bonicontro (Marlboro, Mass.) is right behind with 8-3-19. Junior M Daniel Galvin (Attleboro, Mass.) has been both a scoring threat and distributor with 3-5-11.
 
“We will need to be disciplined off the ball and make sure we understand our defensive roles when we lose the ball,” Figueroa said. “When we have the ball and we play our game, I think it will make for a very even match.”

Following Wednesday's clash, UMass Lowell hosts Saint Anselm Saturday (1:00) and visits No. 12 Southern New Hampshire, which suffered a 1-0 overtime loss at Bentley Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday, Oct. 17.