February 21 vs. Connecticut (3 p.m.)
Live Stats

LOWELL, Mass. – Following a 1-1 opening week, the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team heads back out on the road with a Friday afternoon matchup at UConn. The opening draw is set for 3 p.m.
 
LOOKING AT UMASS LOWELL
The River Hawks are coming into Friday's contest ready to rebound after a tough 13-5 loss to Holy Cross on Sunday afternoon. UMass Lowell freshman Abby McLaughlin made a splash in her collegiate debut recording four goals against CCSU for a total of five points on the season (5g, 0a). On the defensive end the River Hawks are snagging 21.5 ground balls per game, led by Layton Nass, Madison Grazidei and Hana Caster, with six ground balls a piece. As a unit UMass Lowell is averaging a 60 percent control rate with Caster leading the charge with 13 draw controls.
 
SCOUTING CONNECTICUT
The Huskies are coming off their first loss of the season, falling on the road to James Madison, 11-8, bringing their overall record to 1-1. Connecticut's leading point getter, sophomore Lia Laprise paces the squad with nine points this season (4g, 5a). On the defensive side of the ball UConn is led by sophomore Julia Ozimek with eight caused turnovers and six ground balls. On the draw the Huskies have gained possession about half of the time for an average of 52.8 percent.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Freshman Natalie Choate opened up the scoring in the second half, after a ground ball pickup by fellow classmate Nass. The Crusaders would answer back though with seven goals over the span of 15 minutes to extend their lead to 12-3 with 11:38 left on the clock. McLaughlin and Caster would go on the attack for back-to-back goals, trimming the gap 12-5 with 11 minutes left to play, but Holy Cross would add one more to their total, ending the score 13-5.
 
NATIONAL SPLASH
On clear percentage the River Hawks are ranked No. 4 in the NCAA with an outstanding .955 percent. In their most recent contest against Holy Cross the River Hawks recorded a 100 percent effort, going 22-for-22 on clears, while grabbing 20 out of 22 in the season opener win against CCSU.
 
INSIDE THE PIPES
Grazidei has had an amazing start to her collegiate career, leading the River Hawks to a season opener win with seven saves. Overall, Grazidei ranks top 25 in goals against average with 10.00 gaa on the season to place her second in the conference. She also sits in the top 35 for save percentage with .487 percent for third in the conference. Recording 9.5 saves per game puts Grazidei second in the America East and 39th in the nation.
 
MILESTONE WATCH
Caster leads the team in draw controls with a total of 13 over the past two games for a 6.5 average, placing her top 30 in the NCAA. Caster's impressive tally of nine draw controls in the win over Central Connecticut places her in the record books for the second most draw controls in a game just behind graduate student Kelly Moran with 10 draw controls just last year. Caster now totals 124 total draw controls in her career, putting her only 35 draw controls away from the current record of 159 held by Moran.
 
FULL TEAM EFFORT
As a team the River Hawks are ranked 17th in the nation in draw control percentage, winning 60.5 percent of the draws over their two games. The River Hawks are also ranked top 25 in ground balls per game with 21.50 on the season.
 
OFFENSIVE POWERHOUSE
Ranked in the top 25, the River Hawks are recording 26 shots on goal per game to lead the America East. McLaughlin with her average of seven shots on goal per game, places her at second in the conference.