Thursday, October 22 at Albany (7 p.m.)
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Twitter: @RiverHawkWSOC @RiverHawkNation 
 
Sunday, October 25 vs. Hartford (4 p.m.)
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Twitter: @RiverHawkWSOC @RiverHawkNation 
  
LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's soccer team is set to play their final two games of the season, traveling to Albany on Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m., before hosting Hartford on Sunday, October 25 for a 4 p.m. tilt. Sunday will be Senior Day for the River Hawks, honoring two seniors on this year's squad.
 
Looking at the River Hawks
The River Hawks are 5-11-0, 2-4-0 AE, after splitting a pair of decisions last week to America East Conference opponents. The squad topped Vermont, 3-1, on Oct. 15 before facing a 1-0 setback at Stony Brook on Oct. 18. In last week's win, freshman forward Nat Reynisdottir (Kopavogur, Iceland) and sophomore forward Thalia Petsis (Toronto, Ontario) both tallied their first career goals as River Hawks. Freshman forward Katelyn Vieira (Warwick, R.I.) is leading the way for UMass Lowell, posting a team best seven goals and three assists for 17 points. Vieira currently sits third in the conference in goals, fourth in points and ninth in assists. Freshman goalkeeper Julia Schneider (Bridgewater, Mass.) owns every decision in the net with a 2.15 goals against average, 71 saves and a .683 save percentage. UMass Lowell is looking to finish its best Division I record in 2015, after setting a program high (5) last year.
 
Scouting Albany
Albany is coming into the week 7-8-1, 2-3-1 AE, after going 1-1 in their last two contests. The Great Danes dropped a close, 2-1 decision to top-ranked Hartford on Oct. 15, but bounced back to snap their three-game skid on Oct. 18 by blanking Vermont, 2-0. Alexa Schneider has totaled five goals and four assists for 14 points so far this season to lead her team. Vivian Vega (6g, 1a) and Kiana Rugar (4g, 5a) sit closely behind Schneider with 13 points apiece. In the net, Alana Brennan holds a 6-7-1 record, posting a 1.26 goals against average, 62 saves and a .775 goals against average.
 
Head Coach Joel Bancroft on Albany
"Albany has a prolific attack and causes problems for even the best defenses. They lead the league in both shots and corners for good reason. They have great attacking mentality and we will have to slow them down to get points on the road."
 
Scouting Hartford
Top-ranked Hartford (9-2-4, 3-0-3 AE) comes in to this week undefeated in conference play. A couple late goals in last week's contests have helped the Hawks to keep a clean sheet. On Oct. 11, the team drew a 1-1 double overtime tie against Vermont. Four days later, they erased a 1-0 deficit and battled back to defeat Albany 2-1 on Oct. 15. Aaliyah Ingram leads the team in goals (7), assists (4), points (18) and shots on goal. Goalkeeper Jessica Jurg leads the conference with a 0.50 goals against average and save percentage with .857 posting seven blanks sheets on the year.
 
Head Coach Joel Bancroft on Hartford
"Hartford is top on of the league at 3-0-3. They are well coached and very balanced. It is a very good defending team and they find a way to win games. To end our season with Hartford will be a great measuring stick for us."
 
Series History
Thursday's contest will be the third time the Great Danes and the River Hawks have squared off in the sport of women's soccer. Albany leads the all-time series, 1-0-1, as UMass Lowell looks to even the series on the road. UMass Lowell and Hartford will also be meeting for just the third time with Hawks holding a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series.
 
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 tied seventh for single season goals (7), tied seventh for single season scoring (17), and 19th for career scoring leaders (7-3-17). 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
Freshman goalkeeper 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. Freshman forward 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. Freshman forward Nat Reynisdottir (Kopavogur, Iceland) was named America East Rookie of the Week for her two-goal effort in a 3-1 decision against Vermont, notching her first career goals.