Friday vs. Merrimack: Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell men's lacrosse team (0-9, 0-4 AE) is ready for a local rivalry night on Friday, April 14, when they host Merrimack (5-5, 1-3 NEC) for the team's annual Spread Respect Game. Opening faceoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. at Cushing Field. 
 
SPREAD RESPECT
America East's Spread Respect initiative serves to "raise awareness to ensure equality and safety for all student-athletes, coaches and fans without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity." At Friday's game, fans will have the opportunity to share what 'Spread Respect' means to them at a table set up by UMass Lowell's SAAC. For more information on the Spread Respect initiative, please click here. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The River Hawks fell 15-8 to UMBC in a midday America East clash on April 6. Riley Lawhorn tallied a hat trick on four shots while Nick Harvath added two goals and one assist for three points of his own. Dean Jackson and Khari Sears got on the scoresheet as well, combining for three goals. Luke Renaud made his ninth start of the saving with 16 saves on the afternoon.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
Nick Harvath and Riley Lawhorn sit atop the stat sheet with 17 points apiece. Lawhorn leads the team with 16 goals in nine games while Harvath has a team-high eight assists this season. Sean Parker and Jake Davis have also reached double-figure points, tallying 11 points each. Justin Longo leads the group in caused turnovers with five. Owen Wills and Alexander Chairs sit just behind Longo with four each. Freshman FOGO Devin German's 46 ground balls and 71 faceoff wins leads the team. In the cage, Luke Renaud has made 127 saves with a .477 save percentage in nine starts to lead the team. 
 
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Merrimack is coming off a 15-12 victory over NJIT last Saturday. The Warriors had dropped three straight conference contests before picking up their first America East win over the Highlanders. Jack Rooney leads the team with 34 points from 17 goals and 17 assists. Brian Russel's 27 goals on the year is also a team-high for the Warriors. Henry Vogt has made 10 starts in the cage with a 5-5 record and made 130 saves with a .546 save percentage. 
 
A WIN WOULD
A win would give UMass Lowell its first victory of the season. A win would also be Head Coach Drew Kelleher's first at the helm of the River Hawks. 
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
UMass Lowell is 1-2 against Merrimack, dating back to the 2020 season. The River Hawks took the first meeting and have dropped the previous two. Merrimack has outscored UMass Lowell 38-26 in three games. 
 
UP NEXT
The River Hawks stay close to home with a visit to Holy Cross on Tuesday, April 18. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Kuzniewski Field in Worcester, Mass.