Sept. 11, 2009

The No. 3 UMass Lowell River Hawks will take on the Yellow Jackets of American International College in their first conference matchup of the year on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. on Cushing Field.

The River Hawks (5-1, 0-0 NE) are coming off a 2-1 loss to Stonehill, a game that saw their lowest offensive output of the season. In the loss, the River Hawks were held to just two shots in the second half, but outshot the Skyhawks 10-6 in the game. Jaci Moulton (Baldwinville, MA) scored the River Hawks’ lone goal of the game.

The River Hawks are averaging a league-best 4.00 goals per game, while the Yellow Jackets are averaging 0.59. Defensively, UMass Lowell ranks second in the league with a 1.33 goals allowed average and AIC is averaging 5.50.

American International (2-3, 1-0 NE-10) is coming off a 2-1 overtime victory over Assumption in its first conference game of the year. Sophomore Amanda McLean (Branford, CT) netted the game-winner for the Yellow Jackets, her second of the year.

UMass Lowell swept the season series with AIC in 2008, first with a decisive 5-0 shutout victory on Sept. 4, 2008. Katie Enaire (Amesbury, MA) tallied a pair of goals in the game, while her season total against the Yellow Jackets was three.

The teams last met on Oct. 2, 2008, when the River Hawks captured a 3-1 victory behind goals from Enaire and senior midfielder Molly Clay (Rockport, MA).