Saturday, September 26 at New Hampshire (2 p.m.)
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Sunday, September 27 vs. Harvard (3 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell field hockey team is scheduled to get back in action with a pair of games this week. The squad will close out a four-game road trip with its first America East match of the season at New Hampshire on Saturday, September 26 beginning at 2 p.m. The River Hawks then welcome in-state opponent Harvard for a 3 p.m. CF Awareness/Team IMPACT game on Sunday, Sept. 27.
 
CF Awareness/Team IMPACT Game
In 2014, the field hockey team drafted Isabelle Johnson as an honorary member through Team IMPACT, a Boston-based non-profit organization, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing chronic illnesses. Isabelle was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when she was just nine days old. CF is an illness that can cause life-threatening lung infections and affects an estimated 30,000 people in the U.S. Although Isabelle's life has been dominated by treatments, the eight-year-old loves hockey and cheerleading. She is now in third grade and is currently participating in a clinical trial for a new CF medication. Sunday's contest marks the River Hawks' second annual CF Awareness/Team IMPACT game. Be sure to come on out to Wicked Blue Field on Sunday wearing your purple to support the cause.
 
Looking at UMass Lowell
UMass Lowell is 5-2 so far in 2015 after facing a 3-2 setback at Hofstra for the team's lone decision last week on Sept. 18. In that outing, freshman Torrie Huk (Milford, Del.) notched both River Hawk goals to pace the visitors. So far this year, the River Hawks boast a .591 shot on goal percentage, compared to .474 by their opponents. Through seven games, Huk leads the team with five goals and 11 total points. Junior Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) (3 goals, 2 assists) and sophomore Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.) (2 goals, 3 assists) follow close behind with eight and seven points, respectively. 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 four assists and six total points. Classmates Jessica Walsh (North Easton, Mass.) and Jenna Freitas (Manchester, N.H.) have added to the offense with two goals and five points each, as well. Sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) has earned every decision in the cage, totaling 39 saves and a .736 save percentage.
 
Scouting New Hampshire
The Wildcats hold a 2-5 record so far after dropping two games last week to ranked opponents. UNH fell to No. 28 William & Mary, 3-2, on Sept. 18 before being defeated in a 5-2 decision against No. 9 Maryland on Sept. 20. UNH will square off against Providence on Sept. 25 before hosting the River Hawks. Meg Flatley and Lindsey Nerbonne are first on the team with three goals apiece. Flatley is also tied for first on the team in assists (2), points (8) and shots on goal (11). In the net for the Wildcats has been Melissa Rize, posting a 2-5 record with 21 saves and a 3.40 goals against average.
 
Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk on New Hampshire
"We are excited for our first conference match. UNH is always well-coached and disciplined with the ball. We need to take our game to the next level now that conference play has started and hopefully our competitiveness during these first seven games has prepared us well."
 
Scouting Harvard
The Crimson enters this week with a 3-2 record, thanks to a pair of victories in the team's most recent two contests. The squad defeated Northeastern on the road, 1-0, on Sept. 18 before blanking Colgate, 3-0, on Sept. 20. Before traveling to Lowell, Harvard will host Yale on Sept. 26 for an Ivy League showdown. Leading the way for the Crimson has been Elizabeth Jacobson and Marissa Balleza, logging 12 and 10 points, respectively. Jacobson has tallied four goals and four assists, with two game-winners. Balleza has five goals to average one per game. Goalkeeper Issy Davis has posted a 2.44 goals against average with 20 saves for a .645 save percentage.
 
Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk on Harvard
"We are excited for our second annual Team IMPACT game this Sunday. It's a great organization and we are happy to have been paired with Isabelle. Harvard is a strong team that is aggressive on offense. If we are ready to play right from the first whistle and bring the same intensity we brought to Brown, it should be a very evenly-matched game."
 
Series History
UMass Lowell is looking to pick up its first win against both opponents this week. The River Hawks and the Wildcats have met just two times since 2013, including a 6-0 decision for UNH last year. Sunday's contest marks the fifth meeting in the series between UMass Lowell and Harvard, dating back to 1988. In the most recent meeting, the Crimson earned a 6-0 win on their home turf in 2014.
 
Around the League
The River Hawks are currently third in the AE East Division standings, although UMass Lowell is the only team in either division to remain undefeated at home in 2015 (3-0). As a team, UMass Lowell ranks third in the league in scoring average (3.12), as well as fourth in goals scored per game (2.43) and penalty corners (6.43)
 
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 2.43 goals per game this year, compared to 1.37 in 2014.
 
Close Calls
All seven of the River Hawks' games so far in 2015 have been decided by just one goal. Add these to last year's 11 one-goal games, and 72% (18-25) 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. Most recently, 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 4-1 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
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.