Friday, October 24 vs. New Hampshire (6 p.m.)
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Sunday, October 26 at Providence (1 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell field hockey team takes to the field for a pair of games this weekend, closing out a four-game homestand against America East Conference opponent New Hampshire on Friday, October 24 at 6 p.m. before visiting Providence for the team's last road contest of the year on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m.
 
River Hawk Review
UMass Lowell enters this week's contests with a 5-10 overall record, including a 0-3 mark in America East play. Last week, the River Hawks dropped a hard-fought, 2-1 decision against No. 20 Maine on Oct. 17 before getting back in the win column with a last-second, 1-0 victory against Darmouth on Oct. 19.
 
Flying High
Senior Bianca Jones (Watertown, Mass.) paces the River Hawks with nine goals, including three game-winners, for 18 total points. Sophomore Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) has added to the offensive effort with two goals and four assists for eight points, while classmate Eleonore Agneessens (Brussels, Belgium) and freshman Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.) follow with five points apiece. Junior Marzana Fietkou (Georgetown, Guyana), who scored both of the team's goals last week, and freshman Fiona Fitzgerald (Lexington, Mass.) have tallied two goals for four points each, as well. Freshman goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) has anchored the backfield with two shutouts and 102 saves for a .739 save percentage.
 
Scouting New Hampshire
The Wildcats come into the Friday night matchup with a 5-10 overall record and a 2-1 mark in America East play. Meg Flatly paces the offense with 10 goals and four assists for 24 points. Lindsey Nerbonne has added eight goals and one assist for 17 points. Carlie Tarbell has made all 15 starts in the cage recording 69 saves. She carries a 2.21 goals against average and a .676 save percentage. Melissa Rize has made two relief appearances.
 
Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk on New Hampshire
"New Hampshire has won its last two games so we know that Friday will be extremely competitive. They are technically sound and well coached, but we did a lot of things right in our last game, especially on our back line, and if we can continue to work hard as a unit for the entire game, it will be a great matchup."
 
Scouting Providence
Big East member Providence has posted an overall record of 9-7 so far and will play Columbia on October 24 prior to hosting UMass Lowell. Daniella Bernasconi and Megan Hamilton both have 12 goals to spark the offense. Bernasconi holds the points lead 28-27 thanks to her four assists, compared to Hamilton's three. Steph Guglielmo adds 10 goals and five assists for 25 points to the attack. Deidra Clymer has made all 16 starts and owns a 2.21 goals against average with a .615 save percentage, while recording 56 saves. Megan Guilbert has made two relief appearances tallying 35:45.
 
Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk on Providence
"Sunday will be our last road game of the year. Providence has had a very good season so far, facing some tough competition. Our conditioning and practice this week should help us prepare to play solid on both sides of the ball."
 
Series History
The River Hawks and the Wildcats will square off for just the second time in the history of the two programs on Friday. New Hampshire leads the series, 1-0, after securing a 5-0 win in 2013. Sunday's contest between UMass Lowell and Providence will mark the sixth meeting ever between the schools, as the Friars own a 4-0-1 edge in the series, although the teams have not faced off since 1989.
 
News to Note
The team has earned four America East weekly awards so far this season, as Bianca Jones was named Player of the Week twice and Kelsey Federico was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week twice … The River Hawks 2-0 start in 2014 marked their best since 2010 when the squad went 24-0 and won the NCAA Division II National Championship … In addition, the team's 4-3, double-overtime win against Longwood on Aug. 31 was its first overtime win since Sept. 4, 2011 (vs. #9 Millersville), and first ever in Division I … UMass Lowell has come on strong late in games this season, scoring 11 of its 18 goals so far in either second half or overtime action … Federico has logged a personal-best 12 saves twice this season, against UMass on Sept. 14 and against Bucknell on Oct. 12 … The team's 3-2 win at Quinnipiac on Sept. 16 was the program's first Division I road win … With the 3-2 win against UC Davis on Sept. 27, the River Hawks improved to 2-0 in overtime this year … Jones logged her first hat trick of the season to lift UMass Lowell to that victory against the Aggies … Marzan Fiedtkou's first career goal on Oct. 17 against No. 20 Maine snapped a four game scoreless streak for the River Hawks, while her last-second goal the very next game against Dartmouth on Oct. 19 ended a five-game skid for the team.