LOWELL, Mass. – Following a win in their conference opener, the UMass Lowell men's soccer team (6-1-3, 1-0 AE) hits the road for another America East battle against the UMBC Retrievers (4-4-2, 1-0 AE) on Saturday, October 5 at Retriever Soccer Park.

October 5 at UMBC (7:00 p.m.)
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LAST TIME OUT
The River Hawks enter Saturday's game following a 2-0 victory against UAlbany in the America East opener. Against the Great Danes, senior Liam Ireland (Yarmouth, Maine) tallied his first goal of the season. Ireland, whose goal came midway through the second half, was one of three River Hawks to record a point on the night. Senior Yanis Lakhlifi (La Crau, France) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the first half, and junior Iñaki Esnaola (Junin, Argentina) chipped in with an assist on Ireland's goal. In net, junior JR Gawel (Leonardtown, Md.) recorded his second straight shutout, and fourth of the year, making six saves on the night to tie his season-best.

LEADING THE FLOCK
Graduate student Guillermo Francés Poquet (Enguera, Valencia) and Lakhlifi currently lead the River Hawks with seven points, off of three goals and an assist each. Tied with them for the team lead in goals is junior Oliver Holmstrom (Gävle, Sweden), who scored three goals in the first five games. Behind them, Iñaki Esnaola  adds a goal and three assists while junior Calvin Scholten(Hengelo, Netherlands) chips in with a goal and two assists. In net, Gawel has made 39 saves in nine games, good for a .780 save percentage, while sophomore Daniele Di Giorgio (Montréal, Quebec) has made one start, allowing one goal and making five saves in a 3-1 victory.

HOT START
The River Hawks, who have started the season 6-1-3, are off to the best start since the 2018 season, marking the second-best opening in program history. The team also held an undefeated record through the first six games, tying the 2018 season for the second-longest undefeated start to a year, only behind the 2016 squad that began the year 10-0-2 on the way to a 13-1-2 record.

IN THE CLUTCH
So far this season, Holmstrom has found the back of the net in crucial situations, scoring in three of the team's six wins. All of his goals so far this year have proven to be the winning score and with three game-winning goals to his name, the Sweden native currently ranks third in the nation.

FRESH FACES
Two of the newest members of the squad have appeared in at least eight games this season, with freshman Matteo Costa (Frankfurt am Main, Germany) starting in every match. Out of the newest River Hawks, junior Martin Harguindey (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and freshman Cristiano Da Silva (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) both have a goal to their name, while Costa and freshman Santiago Somorrostro (Nashua, N.H.) have each tallied an assist.  

SCOUTING UMBC
The Retrievers enter Saturday's match with a 4-4-2 record, most recently coming off a 5-0 loss to Drexel. In their conference opener, they beat Binghamton 2-0, thanks to goals from Ricky Schissler and Karl Quist-Therson. UMBC's offense is led by Hans Nesheim, who has seven points off seven assists. Ryan Calheira and Joseph Picotto are right behind him, scoring three goals for six points apiece.

A WIN WOULD
A win on Saturday would continue the best start since 2018 for the River Hawks and move UMass Lowell to 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2019.

MATCHUP HISTORY
Saturday's match will be the 11^th time that the River Hawks and Retrievers have battled, with UMBC currently holding a 6-4 advantage. Last season, the Retrievers earned a 2-1 win in Lowell, with UMass Lowell earning its last win in the series with a 2-1 victory during the 2021 season.