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The cliché, the third time is a charm, is apparent on several levels with UMass Lowell's NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament East Region Championship match this Friday.

It is UMass Lowell's third appearance since 2003 in the East Region Championship, twice denied. It also the River Hawks' third meeting with Southern New Hampshire this season. They are 0-2 against the Penmen.

The match is slated for 6:00 at SNHU's George J. Larkin Field. Admission is $6 for adults; and $2 for students (with identification), senior citizens and children aged 2-12

River Hawk fans headed up to Manchester for the game are invited to meet up prior to the game at Margarita's (1037 Elm Street; www.margs.com) beginning at 4:00PM.
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With a victory, UMass Lowell will face the winner between Mercyhurst and Gannon University Sunday at 1:00 in Manchester. Mercyhurst and Gannon meet Friday at 2:30.

Southern New Hampshire won both meetings over UMass Lowell this year – 3-0 in the regular season and 2-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament semifinal – and has had the River Hawks' number the past four seasons. The Penmen are 5-0-1 against the River Hawks in the last six meetings.

“I expect a battle. (SNHU) has gotten us twice this year,” said head coach Christian Figueroa. “I'm expecting this to be the toughest game of the year for us.”

Southern New Hampshire is fresh off a 1-0 victory over Merrimack Sunday via a 76^th minute penalty kick from senior F Chris Tsonis. The Warriors were forced to play a man down due to a red card the final 28 minutes.
Southern New Hampshire outshot Merrimack 16-11 overall and 8-3 on target.

“Southern New Hampshire transitions very well,” said Figueroa. “They push the numbers up fast and make it difficult for defenses to deal with. They outplayed us in the first two games. They were just better than us on those days.”

The East Region title has eluded UMass Lowell on two occasions, both times against Dowling College. In 2003, the River Hawks suffered a 2-0 loss in Oakdale, N.Y.

In 2008, UMass Lowell hit the crossbar and the post during regulation play, and seemed to be headed for a penalty shootout with the Golden Lions. However, Dowling's Lamond Traore, who spent most of the match injured, came on in the second overtime and scored on a shock half-volley from the left corner of the 18-yard box with a minute left for a 1-0 win.

Figueroa was a freshman on the 2003 team and an assistant coach in 2008, and clearly recalls the disappointment.

“It's tough to be on that losing end, having been there in the past and knowing how much work it takes to get there,” he said. “It was disheartening.”

UMass Lowell stunned No. 1 LIU Post Sunday behind an 88^th minute header from sophomore B Juan Moreira (Leominster, Mass.) off a corner kick from senior Bruno Bonicontro (Marlboro, Mass.). On Friday, the River Hawks dispatched Post University, 3-1, behind two goals from junior F Majid Saeed (Woburn, Mass.).

The River Hawks are in the midst of their fifth appearance in the NCAAs, with the aforementioned quarterfinal appearances in 2003 and 2008; a first round appearance in 2004 and a second round showing in 2007.