Friday, October 23 vs. Liberty (3:30 p.m.)
Live Stats | Watch Live | Video Preview
Twitter: @RiverHawkFH @RiverHawkNation Tweet #UnitedInBlue
 
Sunday, October 25 vs. Vermont (1 p.m.)
Live Stats | Watch Live | Video Preview
Twitter: @RiverHawkFH @RiverHawkNation Tweet #UnitedInBlue

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell field hockey team is scheduled to play a pair of games at home this week. The team first welcomes No. 9 Liberty University to Wicked Blue Field for its final non-conference game of the season on Friday, October 23 at 3:30 p.m. The River Hawks are then slated to host America East opponent Vermont at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 25 for Senior Day.
 
Looking at UMass Lowell
UMass Lowell is 5-10 overall and 0-6 in America East action in 2015. The squad is looking to snap a nine-game skid. Last week, the team squared off against two nationally ranked opponents. The River Hawks first fell, 3-1, at home against #10 Albany before facing a 2-0 road setback at #19 Maine. Through 15 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 95 saves and a .714 save percentage.
 
Scouting #9 Liberty
The ninth-ranked Flames sit at 9-4 overall heading into Friday's outing. The team split a pair of games last week, defeating No. 13 Delaware, 6-2, on Oct. 11 before dropping a closely-contested battle, 4-3, against No. 5 Virginia. Natalie Barr paces the squad with 12 goals and 27 points. Ashlee Krulock follows close behind with 11 goals and 24 total points. Serena Barr and Hannah Jones are tied for first on the squad with five assists apiece. In the cage, Mallory Cuccio owns the 9-4 record with a 2.51 goals against average and 58 saves.
 
Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk on Liberty
"Friday will be our third straight game against a nationally ranked opponent. Liberty has played a lot of strong teams this year and knows how to win. Our defense has proven that they can hold their own against tough opponents, so if we can just get our offense to attack and take advantage of scoring opportunities, it will be a competitive game."
 
Scouting Vermont
The Catamounts sit at 3-12 overall and 1-4 in America East games after dropping their three most recent outings. Last week, Vermont faced home losses against Maine (3-1) on Oct. 11 and Albany (6-0) on Oct. 18. The team will host New Hampshire on Friday, Oct. 23 before making the trip to Lowell. Leading the offense is Lauren Tucker with five goals and five assists for 15 points. Molly Higgins, who has a team-high six goals, adds to the offense with 14 points. Aria Robinson has logged three assists in 2015, good for first on the squad. In the cage, Lena Benwood is 3-11 with 105 saves, a 3.32 goals against average and two shutouts.
 
Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk on Vermont
"Sunday will be our Senior Day game against Vermont and we want to do whatever it takes to honor our seniors with a win. Our first game against Vermont this year was close, but we can play better than we did there. If we play well on both sides of the ball, we will have a great chance to be successful."
 
Series History
Friday's contest marks the first meeting ever between UMass Lowell and Liberty in the sport of field hockey. On Sunday, the River Hawks and Catamounts will square off for the 14th time since 1986, and the second time this season. Vermont earned a 3-2 decision earlier this year to improve to 10-2-1 all-time against UMass Lowell.
 
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 (6.07), fourth in scoring average (2.64), as well as fifth in goals scored per game (2.15) and penalty corners (5.79).
 
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 1.93 goals per game this year, compared to 1.37 in 2014.
 
Close Calls
So far in 2015, 11 of the River Hawks' 15 games have been decided by just one goal. Add these to last year's 11 one-goal games, and 66.7% (22-33) 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
Eleonore Agneessens posted her first goal of the season on Oct. 16 against Albany … Kelsey Federico set a season high with 12 saves twice, against California on Oct. 10 and at Maine on Oct. 18 … 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 … Sophie Watt's goal against Quinnipiac on Aug. 28 marked her first career goal.