LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's soccer (7-5-3, 4-1-1 AE) returns to action for a heavyweight clash with the Binghamton Bearcats (7-5-3, 4-1-1 AE) on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
October 23 at Binghamton (ESPN+ – 1:00 p.m. ET)
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Sunday's game between the River Hawks and Bearcats will be a big game in determining the seeding for the America East Championship. UMass Lowell and Binghamton, along with New Hampshire and Maine, are all tied for first place in the league with 13 points. All four teams will be in action Sunday, as New Hampshire will take on UMBC and Maine will visit Bryant in their regular season finale.
LOOKING AT UMASS LOWELL
The River Hawks are currently unbeaten in their last five games with a 4-0-1 record. Last week, UMass Lowell went 1-0-1 with a 1-1 draw at Maine and a 2-0 home win over UMBC.
Emily Nelson scored in both games last week and
Ioanna Papatheodorou added her team-leading ninth goal of the season in the win over the Retrievers. Papatheodorou has scored three goals in the last three games.
Taylor Burgess continues to impress in goal, allowing just one goal and keeping three clean sheets in her last four starts.
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
The Bearcats hold a 4-1-1 record and went 1-0-1 last week. Binghamton knocked off UAlbany 3-1 before playing to a 0-0 draw with Maine. Maya Anand leads the league in goals (10), shots on goal (27) and points (24) this season. Peyton Gilmore has provided secondary scoring the Bearcats with six goals and two assists for 14 points this season. Anand and Gilmore are both tied for the league lead in game-winning goals with three apiece. Kaitlyn Williams has played 15 games in goal and holds a 7-3-3 record this season. She sits fourth in the league with 68 saves and has three clean sheets this year.
MATCHUP HISTORY
UMass Lowell is 3-5-1 against Binghamton dating back to 2013. The River Hawks came away with a win last time these teams met behind an overtime goal from
Calliste Brookshire last season. Each of the last three meetings have been 1-0 games in Lowell, with Binghamton holding a 2-1 edge.
THE COMFORTS OF HOME
UMass Lowell has enjoyed the home slate this season, putting together a 6-1 record at Cushing Field. The River Hawks have outscored opponents 20-8 at home and have kept three clean sheets. The team is 3-0 in conference games in Lowell and have won the last five games played at Cushing this season.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Ioanna Papatheodorou was the leading scorer in the league last season, tallying 10 goals for 20 points. The sophomore has nine goals through 14 games this season. She has added three assists to total a team-high 21 points.
Calliste Brookshire has added six goals and one assist for 13 points this season. The River Hawks will look to their star strikers for continued production as points in the conference grow more important.
VETERAN CORE
The River Hawks have returned four veteran members of the team this season in graduate students
Emily Nelson,
Dunja Mostarac and
Lily Fabian, and redshirt senior
Chaima Khammar. The veteran leadership group has been key in getting the newcomers acclimated and raising the level of play on the field. Having been through several seasons, the group leads by example on and off the field.
CONFERENCE RANKS
Ioanna Papatheodorou sits second in the league in goals (9), points (21), shots (57) and shots on goal (26).
Calliste Brookshire is tied for fourth in the league with six goals this season.
Lily Fabian is tied for the league lead in assists, tallying four so far. The River Hawks have scored 27 goals this season, tied for the most in the conference, and lead the league with 22 assists in 15 games.
