Thursday, October 15 vs. Vermont (7 p.m.)
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Sunday, October 18 vs. Stony Brook (4 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's soccer team is slated to square off against a pair of America East Conference opponents this week. The squad will host Vermont under the lights Thursday, October 15 at Cushing field at 7 p.m. and then travel to Long Island on Sunday, Oct. 18 for a 4 p.m. tilt against Stony Brook.
 
Looking at UMass Lowell
UMass Lowell (4-10-0, 1-3-0 AE) recently snapped its three-game skid on Oct. 11 in a 3-0 decision against America East opponent Binghamton. Last week, the team dropped a 4-2 decision at New Hampshire on Oct. 8, only to bounce back three days later on Oct. 11, when they tabbed their first conference win of 2015. Through 14 games, freshman Katelyn Vieira (Warwick, R.I.) leads the River Hawks with seven goals and 16 total points, good for fourth and fifth in the conference. Sophomore Shannon Groffie (Toms River, N.J.) has tallied four goals on the season and a team best three game-winners. Freshman goalkeeper Julia Schneider (Bridgewater, Mass.) has earned every decision in the cage, totaling 58 saves, a .656 save percentage and three blank sheets.
 
Scouting Vermont
The Catamounts (6-5-2, 3-1-1 AE) have won four of their last six games, including a double overtime victory on the road at UMBC. Vermont is coming off a 1-1 week, topping Maine, 2-1, at home on Oct. 8, before settling for a 1-1 double overtime tie with Hartford on Oct. 11. Junior Nikki McFarland leads the squad with five goals and two assists for 12 points. Fellow junior Caitie Green (4g, 1a) and sophomore Sarah Martin (3g, 2a) follow close behind with nine and eight points, respectively.  In the net, senior Ally Ramos owns a 6-4-2 record, totaling 64 saves and a 1.41 goals against average, while tallying four shutouts so far this season.
 
Head Coach Joel Bancroft on Vermont
"Vermont is off to their best start in the America East. This game for us is our next challenge in a long list of challenges we have faced this season. Vermont will come in organized and confident, but we are coming off a great win and are looking forward to the challenge."
 
Scouting Stony Brook
The Seawolves improved to 5-7-2, 2-2-0, thanks to a pair of wins last week. On Oct. 8, Stony Brook blanked Albany, 2-0, before handing New Hampshire their first conference loss of the season in a 3-2 decision. Junior Raven Edwards leads the teams in goals (8), assists (2), points (18) and game winners (3), having her best season as a Seawolf. Time in the net has been split between junior Emily Doherty and freshman Cara Gallagher, who have posted a combined 1.25 goals against average and .800 save percentage.
 
Head Coach Joel Bancroft on Stony Brook
"Stony Brook will be a big test, as they are traditionally top four in the conference. They are coming off a big win over UNH, where they scored two goals in ten minutes to hand them their first conference loss of the season. They have a couple great players in the backfield and I know Coach Sue Ryan, who is a legend in the game, feels good about how her team is playing. Sunday's game will be a big road test for us."
 
Series History
With a thrilling double overtime win in last year's 1-0 decision against the Catamounts, UMass Lowell tied the all-time series, 1-1. The River Hawks and Seawolves will also be meeting for just the third time, as that's series is knotted 1-1, as well, after a 3-1 decision by UMass Lowell in 2014.
 
Making Their Mark
Freshman forward Katelyn Vieira (Warwick, R.I.) has begun to make a dent in the program's record book in her first year as a River Hawk. She currently sits seventh for single season goals (7), eighth for single season scoring (16), and 19th for career scoring leaders (7-2-16). Freshman goalkeeper Julia Schneider (Bridgewater, Mass.) has begun etch her name into the record book, as well, currently tied for 10th on the single season shutout list with three.
 
Honors and Awards
Julia Schneider (Bridgewater, Mass.) received America East Rookie of the Week honors on Sept. 21 after posting her second straight blank sheet and four saves in a 2-0 victory over Bryant. Katelyn Vieira (Warwick, R.I.) tacked River Hawk of the Week honors onto her America East Co-Rookie of the Week Award on Oct. 6, after recording the program's first hat trick of the Division I era. Vieira earned her second Rookie of the Week nod after tallying five points (2g, 1a) in two games on Oct. 12.