Thursday, October 1 vs. UMBC (7 p.m.)
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Sunday, October 4 vs.  (12 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's soccer team opens conference play this week on Thursday, October 1 under the lights as the team hosts UMBC on Cancer Awareness Night. The game is slated to start at 7 p.m. at Cushing Field. Three days later the River Hawks are back on the road, Sunday, Oct. 4, traveling to Maine and taking on the Black Bears at 12 p.m.
 
Looking at UMass Lowell
The River Hawks recently improved to 3-7-0 (0-0 AE) this season, thanks to a hat trick by Katelyn Vieira (Warwick, R.I.) that led the squad to a 3-1 victory over Quinnipiac on September 28. Monday's win was the team's first home win of the season. Vieira now leads the squad with five goals for ten points on 17 shots, tallying a goal in each of her last two games. Carolyn Ragon (Melrose, Mass.) and Alex Guzman (Las Vegas, Nev.) have both accounted for two assists apiece. Goalkeeper Julia Schneider (Bridgewater, Mass.) picked up her third win last week, recording six saves in the outing as she improved to 3-7 in the net. Schneider holds a 2.59 goals against average and a 0.625 save percentage while making 40 saves on the year.
 
Scouting UMBC
The Retrievers are coming into Thursday's game with a 2-7-2 (0-0-1 AE) record, following a double overtime, 1-1 tie against Albany in their conference opener. Sophomore Gabby Boehmer leads the offense in goals (4), points (8) and shot percentage (.571) for UMBC. Alexa Quaranta leads the Retrievers in assists and sits second in points with five. Goalkeeper Jen Nance owns a 1.45 goals against average with 46 saves for a 2-5-2 record.

Head Coach Joel Bancroft on UMBC
"UMBC has been in the top half of our league the last three years. They are well coached and have several talented players. We are eager to start conference play and it will take a total team effort to all three phases of the game to get a positive result. We need to start fast and finish the game by playing the full 90 minutes with both intensity and attention to detail."
 
Series History
Thursday's contest will be the third time the River Hawks and the Retrievers will meet, as the all-time series is tied 1-1. In 2013, UMass Lowell topped UMBC in double overtime, giving the squad their first win as a Division I program. The Retrievers evened the series the following year with a 3-1 victory at home.
 
Scouting Maine
The Black Bears come into the week 5-4-1 (0-0-1) after tying their America East opener against Hartford, 1-1, on Sept. 27, and dropping a 3-0 decision to Dartmouth on Sept. 29. Leading the offense for the Black Bears is Charlene Achill, tallying four goals with one assist for nine points so far this season, while recording three game winners. Vivien Bell has also done damage of her own, adding two goals and three assists for seven points. In the net, Claudia Dube-Trempe posts a 5-3-1 record, 1.09 goals against average, 42 saves and three blank sheets.

Head Coach Joel Bancroft on Maine
"Maine will be a big road test for us. We have to find ways to be effective against a very athletic and organized program. They rarely beat themselves and will be extremely well prepared."

Series History
Sunday's contest will be just the third meeting between the two America East foes, with Maine leading the all-time series 2-0. In 2014, the River Hawks lost a close, 1-0, battle to the Black Bears.
 
Honors and Awards
Julia Schneider 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.
 
Other Notables
Katelyn Vieira's hat trick on Sept. 28 was the first hat trick by a River Hawk since the program went Division I. UMass Lowell currently ranks fourth in the America East with goals per game (1.22).