Sunday, September 28 vs. Stony Brook (1 P.M.) at The Cushing Field Complex.
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The preliminaries are over, the conference season is about to begin.
 
UMass Lowell hosts Stony Brook University at the Cushing Field Complex, Sunday afternoon, September 28 at 1:00 P.M., in what is the America East Conference season opener for both schools.
 
Both squads carry 3-6-0 non-conference records into the match.  Each won the last time out.  The River Hawks knocked off St. Bonaventure, 1-0, and the visitors defeated Fordham, 3-2 in overtime, a week ago. 
 
Two of the River Hawks three wins have been at home.  Stony Brook is undefeated at home but winless on the road.
 
The two clubs have two common opponents.  Each was a winner against Delaware State University, but UMass Lowell defeated Siena College while Stony Brook fell at the hands of the Saints.
 
It is a matchup of teams which have been offensively challenged.  The Seawolves are averaging just a goal a game while UMass Lowell has found the net just six times in its first nine games.  Sophomores lead each team in scoring.  Taylor Chianese  (Chepachet, R.I.)  tops the River Hawk offense with three goals, two of them game winners, while Raven Edwards is Stony Brook's leading scorer, also with three goals.
 
Stony Brook was 6-2-0 in conference play a year ago, good enough for a share of the regular season title.  UMass Lowell won just one of eight league contests; but that victory came against UMBC who also shared the regular season title and went on to win the America East Tournament Championship.
 
Last Time Out
UMass Lowell defeated St. Bonaventure, 1-0
Chainese scored the game's only goal in the 20^th minute of play ending what had been a scoring drought of more than 451-minutes.  Senior goalkeeper Jill Carlson (Lexington, Mass.) was outstanding in goal making eight saves en route to her second shutout of the season.
 
Stony Brook defeated Fordham, 3-2 OT
Edwards got the game winning goal in overtime.
 
The Opponent
Stony Brook University (3-6-0)
The Seawolves have been terrific at home (3-0-0), but they have struggled on the road (0-6-0)
 
Red shirt sophomore Raven Edwards leads Stony Brook in scoring with three goals.  Two teammates have also totaled six points.  Maddie Good has two goals and two assists and Tessa Devereaux has a goal and four assists.
 
Goalkeeper Ashley Castanio has an 2.02 Goals Against Average and a .719 Save Percentage.
 
The Series
UMass Lowell and Stony Brook have met just once before in their history.  That was a year ago when Stony Brook defeated UMass Lowell, 1-0 on the Island. Stoney Brook outshot the River Hawks 20-8 in that encounter.
 
Just for Kicks…
Sophomore Taylor Chianese leads the team in scoring with three goals.  She had the game winning gaols against Delaware State and St. Bonaventure.  Senior captain Sarah Raye (Salem, Mass.) has added two goals.  She found the back of the net in the River Hawk victories against Siena and Delaware State. 
 
Guarding the Nest…
Senior goalkeepers Jill Carlson, who picked up wins against Siena and St. Bonaventure, carries a 1.73 goals against average and a .776 save percentage into the match.  Senior keeper Jane Hatzikonstantis (Tewksbury, Mass.) has seen limited action, but with success.  She has a 1.16 goals against average and a .750 save percentage, got credit for the victory against Delaware State after Carlson sustained an injury during the first half.