February 21 (2 p.m.)
Live Stats | Watch Live (AE.TV)Â
Twitter:Â @RiverHawkWSOCÂ |Â @RiverHawkNation
LOWELL, Mass. -- The UMass Lowell women's soccer team returns to the field for the first time in more than a year, opening its 2021 season at home against Northeastern on Sunday afternoon. The match is set to kick off at 2 p.m. on Cushing Field.
Â
LET'S REWIND…
The River Hawks concluded the 2019 campaign with a 4-11-2 overall record and a 3-4-1 mark in America East action, finishing the regular season sixth in the league. UMass Lowell battled to their second-consecutive conference tournament, where their run was ended by a double-overtime, 1-0 loss to Hartford in the quarterfinals match. Five River Hawks earned post season honors, highlighted by
Dunja Mostarac (Belgrade, Serbia) and
Kristina Bartsch (Pulheim, Germany) All-Conference First Team selections.
Â
RIVER HAWKS GET RECOGNITION
After a solid showing in 2019, the River Hawks were picked fourth in the America East Preseason Coaches' Poll. UMass Lowell received 53 points to match their highest placement in the poll since joining the conference in 2013-14.
Â
OH CAPTAIN, OUR CAPTAINS
Head coach
Mira Novak announced the River Hawks' three captains for the upcoming season on Saturday afternoon, featuring two seniors and a junior.
Abigail Drezek (Cumberland, R.I.) returns to her leadership role while
Giulia Rabbito (Chelmsford, Mass.) and
Emily Nelson (Peabody, Mass.) were named captains for the first time.
Â
WELCOME BACK
The River Hawks welcome back ten starters from last season, including goals and points leader
Emily Nelson who finished last season with six goals and 13 points.Â
Kristin Birgisdottir (Mosfellsbaer, Iceland) returns to the pitch for her senior season after leading the River Hawks in assists (4) last year. Standout defenders Mostarac and Drezek are back to hold down Lowell's defensive line.
Â
THE NEW CREW
There are seven fresh faces on the 2021 roster. The class includes forwards
Marissa Saucedo (Ventura, Calif.),
Gianna DeRose (Brewster, N.Y.),
Calliste Brookshire (Kingston, Mass.) and
Rakel Stefansdottir (Hauganes, Iceland); defenders
Emma Hennessy (Marlborough, Mass.) and
Olivia Sandahl (Skövde, Sweden); and goalkeeper
Megan Hart (Rotterdam, N.Y.).
Â
BETWEEN THE POSTS
With the graduation of
Lauren Huff and
Annerens Tijm, there will be a new player in between the goalposts this season. Last season, junior
Farrell O'Shaughnessy (Bedford, Mass.) made an appearance in three games with two starts, conceding only three goals in 186 minutes. Sophomore
Taylor Burgess (Mendon, Mass.) and newbie
Megan Hart are also competing for the job.
Â
THE OPPOSITION
Starting their 2021 season last weekend, Northeastern took on fellow America East opponent, New Hampshire, ultimately falling to the Wildcats 1-0 on their home turf. The Huskies went 8-10-1 in 2019 (5-3-1 in the CAA). Chelsea Domond, Mikenna McManus and Kayla McCauley each scored two goals in 2019. Megan Adams is back in goal after starting all 15 matches, posting a .750 save percentage and a 1.13 goals-against average.
Â
Series: UMass Lowell is 0-2-0 all-time against Northeastern. The two teams met for the first time in the 2014 season opener where the Huskies pulled away with a 3-0 victory.
Â
A SEASON LIKE NO OTHER
This season will be unlike any other for the River Hawks and the rest of the America East, after the traditional fall season was postponed. Conference play officially begins on March 7 as teams are scheduled to play a total of six league games. NJIT's addition gives the league 10 teams, which will be broken into two five-team divisions and play each team within its pod once plus two additional matches. Due to COVID-19 schedules are subject to change.
Full 2021 #AEWSOC Schedule
Â
The top two teams in each division will qualify for the America East Women's Soccer Championship, which will be held at tournament's top seed. The semifinals take place on April 15 and the championship tilt on April 17. The league champion will earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
SPECTATORS
Due to health and safety considerations, spectators will not be allowed to enter the spectator seating area for 2021 competitions at the Cushing Field Complex at this time.
Â
