In what proved to be a challenging inaugural Division I campaign that began with eight of the first nine games on the road, the UMass Lowell men's soccer team defeated Canisius, 3-1, on September 8, 2013 to secure the first victory of the new DI era for the university.
 
"I have very good memories about that weekend and our first, as well as UMass Lowell's first Division I win, aside from ice hockey," said Head Coach Christian Figueroa. "The team had come off a difficult result two days prior to our Canisius game, but they were a mature group with a strong will to win that afternoon. Canisius came out really strong against us and made us earn those points on the road."
 
Freshman Eric Martin scored two goals in that contest to lead UMass Lowell to the decision. He first opened the scoring for the River Hawks in the fifth minute when he received a pass from Homero Morais and tucked past the goalkeeper at the far post. Later in the outing, Martin gave his squad a three-goal cushion in the 74th minute when he headed home a corner kick from Carlos Ruiz.
 
"To be able to score my first two collegiate goals that early in my freshman season was an awesome experience," commented Martin. "And winning that first ever Division I game is something that will always be remembered. We were all very excited to be able to do that, so that meant a lot to my team and I."
 
Since collecting that first win for all of the newly transitioned River Hawk teams, the men's soccer program has continued to grow and set new standards.
 
"The program changed so much in my four years of being there," added Martin. "We went from winning three games, to being nationally ranked and winning an America East Regular-Season Championship. To see where the program is now is amazing and I couldn't be happier for Christian and the entire team."
 
No matter how much the program has grown, though, Coach Figueroa attributes a lot of his squad's later success to the team members who helped earn that very first win and the foundation that Martin and his teammates laid.
 
"Our goal all along was to earn that first win for UMass Lowell and it really meant a lot to me to be able to see the team accomplish the first goal they had set for the program," concluded the veteran coach. "Through their commitment to the program and leading the four-year transition to Division I, that team set the tone for the success the program has since seen at the highest level of competition."