Box Score (PDF) | Figueroa Interview | Fernandes Interview | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – The No. 19 UMass Lowell (12-1-2, 4-1-1) men's soccer team moved into sole possession of first place and stand one win away from clinching the America East regular season title after blanking the UAlbany Great Danes (9-5-2, 3-2-1), 1-0, on Saturday night.
 
"I thought it was a great performance and UAlbany is obviously a very strong team with a lot of talent," remarked Head Coach Christian Figueroa. "The guys did a great job to dictate the tempo early on and get that first-half goal. Naturally you're going to have to defend a bit for the rest of the game, but the guys did a great job to earn the win."
 
Wuilito Fernandes (Praia, Cape Verde) notched his 10th goal this season in the 24th minute to provide the game's only score. Dario Jovanovski (Zagreb, Croatia) sent in a cross from 30-yards out to Fernandes in the box, and after the senior created space by juggling he deposited the shot into the right corner past the diving keeper.
 
Sophomore Zach Rowell (Haverhill, Mass.) earned his first career blank sheet by making one save off a quick flick in the box following a Great Dane free kick in the 38th minute.
 
The River Hawks created opportunities throughout the contest, as the duo of Fernandes and Ivan Abramovic (Zagreb, Croatia) combined for three shots on target, but UAlbany keeper Danny Vitiello kept the deficit at one.
 
UMass Lowell's defense stifled the Great Dane attack and only allowed four shots. Eric Martin (Danvers, Mass.) made a key play with less than 30 minutes to play, by completing a sliding interception of a pass in the box and clearing it from danger.
 
Fernandes became the sixth individual in program history to notch 10 or more goals in a single season, and the first since Homero Morais in 2012. The feat has been eclipsed on six separate occasions, with Jason Paige ('02, '03) and Michael Paige ('00, '01) each completing it twice.
 
The River Hawks will battle the Hartford Hawks in their final contest of the season at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2. The match is also the squad's Senior Night, and UMass Lowell will honor its four seniors in a special pre-game ceremony.