LOWELL, Mass. – The No. 17 UMass Lowell field hockey team (9-2, 2-0 AE) is set for a double-dose of America East Conference action at Wicked Blue Field this weekend, as the River Hawks look to improve upon their 7-0 start at home. The squad will first face off against California (4-6, 1-2 AE) on Friday, October 6 at 3 p.m., before welcoming New Hampshire (8-3, 4-0 AE) for Alumni Day on Sunday, October 8 at 3 p.m.
 
RIVER HAWK REWIND
The River Hawks won both games last week to improve to 9-2 on the year and extend their current win streak to six games. The team started the weekend with a 2-1 win against league opponent Vermont on Sept. 29. Sophomore Madison Leeper (East Amherst, N.Y.) and senior Alissia de Vries (The Hague, Netherlands) each scored a goal in that outing. The squad then earned a 3-2 victory against Bucknell for Senior Day on Oct. 1. Leeper stretched her scoring streak to four games, while de Vries and sophomore Meike Vischer (The Hague, Netherlands) each contributed one goal apiece, as well. Freshman goalkeeper Marie Oliemans (Driebergen, Netherlands) and senior goalkeeper Christina Calandra (Manchester, Mass.) split time in the cage, as each added one win to their stat line.

LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 11 games, Madison Leeper leads the River Hawk offense with 19 points. Leeper has scored a team-high eight goals, while senior Mirthe Gans (Tiel, Netherlands) leads the team with five assists. In the cage, Christina Calandra has recorded 18 saves, while Marie Oliemans owns a 0.55 goals-against average and an .842 save percentage.
 
A WIN WOULD
A win on Friday against the Golden Bears would give the River Hawks a lead in the series that is currently tied, 2-2. It would also keep the team undefeated at home this year, improving to 8-0 in friendly confines, and set a new overall Division I win streak for the program with seven in a row. A win on Sunday against New Hampshire would give the team a 6-2 lead in the series since 2018. It would also mark the first time the River Hawks have started America East play 4-0.
 
CLIMBING UP THE RANKINGS
The UMass Lowell field hockey team was nationally ranked for the second week in a row. The River Hawks received 118 votes in the NFHCA week five coaches' poll (Oct. 3), climbing to 17th in the country. The team also remained in the top 20 in NCAA RPI rankings for the second week in a row, placing 20th.
 
NATIONAL NEWS
The River Hawks continue to make a mark nationally. The team is currently second in the nation for scoring margin (2.36), third in shutouts per game (0.45), fourth in scoring average and goals per game (3.64), and ninth in winning percentage (.818). Individually, Marie Oliemans remains ranked first in the nation for goals-against average (0.545), and is one of five goalkeepers who is still undefeated with a 5-0 record. She ranks second in the nation for save percentage (.842).
 
DEFENDING HOME TURF
The River Hawks are riding a seven-game win streak at Wicked Blue, the longest of the Division I era. The team has continued its stout defense, allowing just five goals across its seven home games.
 
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
UMass Lowell defeated Maine for the first time in Division I program history on Sept. 22. With that 4-0 victory, the River Hawks became the first America East team to shut out the Black Bears since 2019.
 
STIFF COMPETITION
The River Hawks had a nationally-ranked opponent on their docket for the first three straight weeks of the season, including No. 18 Massachusetts on Sept. 17. UMass Lowell earned the 2-1 upset against the Minutewomen, marking the team's second ever win against a ranked team at the DI level. The team previously defeated then No. 18 UAlbany in 2017. Since 2021, the team has challenged nine nationally ranked opponents, with six of the seven setbacks being decided by two goals or less.
 
RINSE AND REPEAT
A nine-goal performance against Central Michigan on Sept. 9 was actually the team's second consecutive outing decided by that margin. The River Hawks also exploded for nine goals in the win against Merrimack on Sept. 1, tying the record for most goals in a single game for the team at the Division I level. UMass Lowell previously scored nine goals vs. Saint Louis (9.18.2016).
 
SPREADING THE LOVE
The River Hawks have already showed off their depth this year, as seven different players tallied a point in the home opener. The team followed that performance with a total of 11 different goal scorers across back-to-back 9-0 wins vs. Merrimack and Central Michigan. In total, 15 different River Hawks have already tallied a point in 2023.
 
WEEKLY AWARDS
Madison Leeper was named America East Offensive Player and Alissia de Vries was named America East Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 26 … Marie Oliemans was named America East Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19.
 
OF NOTE
Madison Leeper set a new career high with two goals vs. Brown (9.24) … Marie Oliemans earned her first start and complete-game shutout against Northeastern (9.15) … Ava Clarke (Hopkinton, Mass.) notched the first two goals of her River Hawk career vs. Central Michigan (9.9) … senior Sage Valente (Watertown, Conn.) registered her first career goal vs. Central Michigan (9.9) … freshman Christina Wagner (Cicero, N.Y.) tallied her first career goal and assist against Merrimack (9.1) … Karli Penrod and Florine Gerrits (Amstelveen, Netherlands) both registered the first goals of their careers vs. Merrimack (9.1) … junior Sydney Grim (Reading, Pa.) logged her first career goal against LIU (8.25).