Friday, October 9 at UC Davis (4 p.m.)
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Twitter: @RiverHawkFH @RiverHawkNation Tweet #UnitedInBlue
 
Saturday, October 10 vs. California (4 p.m. at Pacific)
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Twitter: @RiverHawkFH @RiverHawkNation Tweet #UnitedInBlue
 
LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell field hockey team is headed to the West Coast for a pair of non-conference games this week, as the River Hawks will visit UC Davis on Friday, October 9 before taking on California in a neutral site game at the University of the Pacific on Saturday, Oct. 10. Both contests are slated to begin at 4 p.m. EST.
 
Looking at UMass Lowell
UMass Lowell is 5-6 overall and 0-3 in America East action in 2015. The squad is looking to snap a five-game skid. Last week, the team faced two tough decisions, falling in overtime, 4-3, against Maine on Oct. 2 before dropping a 3-2 decision at Vermont on Oct. 4. So far this year, the River Hawks boast a .596 shot on goal percentage, compared to .492 by their opponents. Through 11 games, freshman Torrie Huk (Milford, Del.) and sophomore Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.) lead the team with 13 points apiece. Huk also paces the squad with six goals. Junior Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) (5 goals, 2 assists) follows close behind with 12 total points. 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. Senior Jenna Freitas (Manchester, N.H.) has added to the offense with four goals and nine points, as well. Sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) has earned every decision in the cage, totaling 57 saves and a .671 save percentage.
 
Scouting UC Davis
The Aggies (6-9, 0-2 AE) have lost their last two games against No. 10 Stanford (2-1) on Oct. 2 and against California (1-0) on Oct. 4. Jamie Garcia leads the team with six goals and 13 points, while Kayla Wigney adds five goals for 10 points. Danielle Koehne and Hannah Drawbridge have each dished out a team-best four assists. In the backfield, Briana Sooy has recorded two defensive saves. Goalkeeper Erica Cohen is 6-9 with a 1.98 goals against average and 55 saves in 15 games.
  
Scouting California
The Golden Bears (7-4, 2-0 AE) have won three of their last four games, including a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against then sixth-ranked Stanford on Sept. 18. Most recently, the squad picked up a 1-0 decision against America East foe UC Davis. Melina Moore is first on the team with five goals, and shares the team-best mark of 12 points with Sydney Earle (4g, 4a). Bella Forbes is tied with Earle to lead the team with four assists. Marie Lanckneus has recorded three of the team's six defensive saves. In the cage, Kori Griswold has made 11 appearances with 10 starts. She has registered a 2.14 goals against average with 62 saves.
  
Series History
UMass Lowell and UC Davis met for the first time last season when the River Hawks earned a 3-2 overtime decision in Lowell. Saturday's contest will mark the first meeting ever between UMass Lowell and California.
 
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 scoring average (3.04), as well as fourth in goals scored per game (2.40) and penalty corners (6.30)
 
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 2.36 goals per game this year, compared to 1.37 in 2014.
 
Close Calls
So far in 2015, 10 of the River Hawks' 11 games have been decided by just one goal. Add these to last year's 11 one-goal games, and 72.4% (21-29) 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.