Friday, October 16 vs. Albany (3:30 p.m.)
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Sunday, October 18 at Maine (1 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell field hockey team is scheduled to play two America East Conference games this week beginning on Friday, October 16 with a 3:30 p.m. home matinee against Albany. The River Hawks will then travel to Maine on Sunday, October 18 for a 1 p.m. tilt.

Looking at UMass Lowell
UMass Lowell is 5-8 overall and 0-3 in America East action in 2015. The squad is looking to snap a seven-game skid. Last week, the team played a pair of games out west, dropping a 3-2 decision at UC Davis before falling, 2-0, to California in a neutral-site contest at the University of the Pacific. So far this year, the River Hawks boast a .572 shot on goal percentage, compared to .493 by their opponents. Through 13 games, freshman Torrie Huk (Milford, Del.) paces UMass Lowell with six goals. Huk, sophomore Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.) and junior Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) boast a team-high 13 points apiece. Senior Jenna Freitas (Manchester, N.H.) has added to the offense with four goals and one assist for nine points, as well. Senior captain Sophie Watt (Sawtell, Australia) is setting up most of UMass Lowell's scoring chances in 2015, as she has tallied a team-best six assists, in addition to eight total points. Sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) has earned every decision in the cage, totaling 74 saves and a .692 save percentage.
 
Scouting #10 Albany
The 10th-ranked Great Danes sit at 10-2 overall and 2-1 in America East games heading into Friday's contest. Most recently, Albany fell at Maine, 6-2, on Oct. 9 before defeating Yale, 2-0, on Oct. 11. Paula Heuser paces the squad with 12 goals and six assists for 30 points. Anna Bottino, who has also registered six assists, totals 18 points so far in 2015, while Liza Morgan adds 10 points. In the cage, Maxi Primus has played every game, recording 47 saves and a .734 save percentage.
 
Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk on Albany
"We have a very tough week ahead of us with two nationally-ranked opponents. No 10 Albany will definitely come out firing on Friday after facing their first conference loss in two years last week at Maine. They have a high-powered offense that was tested against some of the best teams in the country earlier this season."
 
Scouting #19 Maine
The No. 19 Black Bears currently lead the America East with a 13-2 overall record, including an undefeated, 3-0 mark in conference play after downing Albany, 6-2, on Oct. 9. In its most recent outings, the squad picked up wins at Vermont (3-1) on Oct. 11 and at Dartmouth (2-1) on Oct. 13. Sydney Veljacic has tallied a team-high nine goals, while Libby Riedl and Jessica Skillings lead the Black Bears with 10 assists apiece. Both Veljacic and Riedl total 20 points, as well. Danielle Aviani has also been a threat on offense, tallying seven goals and five assists for 19 points. Time in the cage has been split between goalkeepers Emily Corbett (6-1) and Emma Cochran (7-1), combining for four blank sheets. Corbett is boasting a 1.04 goals against average with 34 saves, while Cochran owns a 1.44 goals against average with 23 saves.
 
Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk on Maine
"On Sunday, we travel to Maine, who also broke into the Top-20 this week with a huge win against Albany. Although they have momentum coming into the weekend, we know we can play with them after our overtime game in Lowell a couple weeks ago. If we attack quickly and turn in a complete, 70-minute performance, it will be a very competitive game."
 
Series History
Friday's contest will mark the seventh meeting ever between UMass Lowell and Albany. The Great Danes own an undefeated record in series that began back in 1995, including a 5-0 win last season. The Black Bears and River Hawks have already met once this season when Maine earned a 4-3 overtime win, giving the squad a 6-1-1 lead in the all-time series.
 
Around the League
The River Hawks are currently fifth in the AE East Division standings. As a team, UMass Lowell ranks third in the league in saves (5.85) and penalty corners (6.15), fourth in scoring average (2.74), as well as fifth in goals scored per game (2.15).
 
Honors and Awards
Jenna Freitas received River Hawk of the Week honors on Sept. 8 for her two-goal performance against Holy Cross. Georgia Cowderoy was tabbed River Hawk of the Week on Sept. 1 after posting two goals in as many games. Kelsey Federico was named the first America East Defensive Player of the Week in 2015 on Aug. 31. She was recognized for helping the team get off to a 2-0 start this season with 15 saves in a pair of contests.
 
Focused on Offense
One of Coach Hlebichuk's keys to success for 2015 was to score more and the team has done just that. The River Hawks are averaging 2.15 goals per game this year, compared to 1.37 in 2014.
 
Close Calls
So far in 2015, 11 of the River Hawks' 13 games have been decided by just one goal. Add these to last year's 11 one-goal games, and 71.0% (22-31) of the team's outings since 2014 have been very closely-contested.
 
Calm under Pressure
Coach Hlebichuk's teams have thrived in 7-vs-7, sudden-victory situations. Earlier this season, the River Hawks scored less than one minute into overtime at Dartmouth on Sept. 4 to secure a 3-2 win. Including last year, UMass Lowell is now 4-2 in overtime decisions.
 
What a Start
UMass Lowell's 4-0 record to begin 2015 marked the program's best start of the Division I era. The last time the River Hawks were undefeated through four games was in 2010 when they won the Division II National Championship.
 
Other Notables
Kristin Aveni tallied one goal and one assist for a career-high three points against Harvard on Sept. 27 … Torrie Huk's two goals at Hofstra on Sept. 18 marked a personal best … Marzana Fiedtkou registered the team's first defensive save of the year at Brown on Sept. 13 … The River Hawks' win against Brown was their first in the all-time series … Christa Doiron posted a career-high two assists and Jessica Walsh totaled a personal-best three points, including her first-career assist, at Massachusetts on Sept. 11 … Jenna Freitas' two-goal performance against Holy Cross on Sept. 6 tied a career-high she had originally set during her freshman season in 2012 … Torrie Huk and Jessica Walsh logged their first career goals at Dartmouth on Sept. 4 … The River Hawks started 2-0 for the second straight year … UMass Lowell's victory against Providence on Aug. 30 was their first ever against the Friars … Kelsey Federico logged a season-high 11 saves against PC … Sophie Watt's goal against Quinnipiac on Aug. 28 marked her first career goal.