Friday, October 10 at Vermont (3 p.m.)
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Sunday, October 12 vs. Bucknell (1 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell field hockey team will play a pair of games this weekend, closing out a three-game road swing at the University of Vermont on Friday, October 10 at 3 p.m. before kicking off a four-game homestand against Bucknell University on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m.
 
River Hawk Review
UMass Lowell enters this week's contests with a 4-7 overall record, including a 0-1 mark in America East play. Last week, the River Hawks dropped a pair of road decisions, falling, 6-0, at Harvard on September 30 and 5-0 at Albany on Oct. 4.  
 
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 three assists for seven points, while classmate Eleonore Agneessens (Brussels, Belgium) and freshman Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.) follow with five points apiece. Freshman Fiona Fitzgerald (Lexington, Mass.) has tallied two goals for four points, as well. Freshman goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) has anchored the backfield with one shutout and 67 saves for a .698 save percentage.
 
Scouting Vermont
The Catamounts enter Friday's contest looking for their first win after losing the first 11 games of the year. Taylor Gaines leads the attack with five goals and one assist for 11 points. Ashley MacDonald has added four goals for eight points, while Molly Higgins and Kimmy Lizotte have each dished out a team-high two assists. Lena Benwood has started six games with eight overall appearances in the cage for Vermont, recording 54 saves with a 3.47 goals against average and a .701 save percentage. Emily Snowden has made the remaining five starts and has appeared in six total games with 49 saves, a 3.92 goals against average and a .731 save percentage.  
 
Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk on Vermont
"We are very fortunate to have a majority of home games this year, so our game at Vermont will be our final America East contest on the road. We have spent this week working on our technique on both sides of the ball, so we are really looking for that to show in Friday's game."
 
Scouting Bucknell
The Bison are currently 6-3 overall and an undefeated, 2-0 in Patriot League games. The squad will play at Holy Cross on Oct. 11 before traveling to Lowell. Bucknell is just 1-4 away from Lewisburg, Pa. so far this year. Liz Willis has a team-high five goals and 12 points, while Amie Pritchard is right behind her with four goals and two assists for 10 points. Kelsey Mucelli has recorded a team-high four helpers, as well. Shannon Keen has made all nine starts in the cage, stopping 31 shots with a 1.55 goals against average and .689 save percentage.
 
Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk on Bucknell
"Bucknell is typically a strong squad in the Patriot League and that is no different this year, as they are near the top of their league standings. We will need to play an entire 70 minutes, taking advantage of all our opportunities and communicating throughout the field in order to compete on Sunday."
 
Series History
The River Hawks and Catamounts will square off for the 12th time in the history of the two programs on Friday. Vermont currently owns a 2-8-1 lead in the all-time series, although UMass Lowell earned a 6-1 victory when the squads last met in 2013. Sunday's contest between UMass Lowell and Bucknell will mark the first meeting ever between the schools in the sport of field hockey.
 
News to Note
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 nine of their 15 goals so far in either second half or overtime action. Kelsey Federico notched a personal-best 11 saves against UMass on Sept. 14. 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. Bianca Jones logged her first hat trick of the season to lift UMass Lowell to that victory against the Aggies.