Saturday, March 30 vs. UMBC: Watch | Live Stats
 
LOWELL, Mass. – After falling in the conference opener, the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team (8-2, 0-1 AE) looks to bounce back as they return home for the first time in over a month to take on the UMBC Retrievers (6-4, 1-1 AE) on Saturday, March 30. Opening draw is set for 4 p.m. at Cushing Field.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Sophomore Grace Lydon (Rowley, Mass.) tallied a career-high three goals, as the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team (8-2, 0-1 AE) fell to the Binghamton Bearcats (5-6, 1-1 AE), 14-9, on Saturday afternoon. Tying Lydon with three points, freshman Chloe Bowers (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) finished the day with two goals and an assist. Senior Megan Brockbank (Bayport, N.Y.) and sophomore Audra Hansen (Stamford, Ct.) each added a goal and an assist. Meanwhile, sophomore Macy Shultz (Adams, N.Y.) and freshman Marlee Green (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) each found the back of the net once. In net, freshman Alexa Kuhn (Rocky Point, N.Y.) finished with five saves.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
Following a season-long six-game road trip, the River Hawks return home to take on UMBC, marking the first home game since February 21 against Stonehill. During the road trip, UMass Lowell posted a 4-2 record and recorded double-digit goals in all but one match. Though the trip was highlighted by a 21-2 victory over Gardner-Webb, the River Hawks also nearly pulled off an upset victory over #23 Brown, falling 15-14 in the final minutes.

GONE STREAKING
With the victory over Presbyterian, the River Hawks tallied their eighth straight win, setting the program record for most wins in a row and most wins in a season.
 
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Anchored by multiple seasoned veterans, UMass Lowell's defense has been a key part of the team's success thus far. Through the first nine games, the defensive unit ranks 16th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 8.90 goals per game, propelling the River Hawks to the 17th-best scoring margin in the country (+5.70). Meanwhile, the team also tallies 10.30 caused turnovers per game, good for the 14th most in Division I, while Kuhn ranks sixth amongst all goalkeepers with only 8.99 goals allowed per game.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
Bowers paces the squad with 31 goals and 35 points and adds 19 draw controls after the first ten games, while Brockbank totals a team-high 12 assists. Right behind Bowers, Catlin has tallied 24 goals, including a program-record eight against Winthrop, and leads her team with 15 ground balls. On defense, graduate student Julia Napolitano (Oakdale, N.Y.) posts a team-best 16 caused turnovers, including a season-high four in the win over LIU. In net, all four goalkeepers have seen time, with Kuhn leading the River Hawks with 60 saves in 433 minutes, good for a 6-2 record.
 
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
The freshmen have left their mark early on UMass Lowell, as Bowers has been named America East Rookie of the Week four times, Goldie has earned the honor twice, while Kuhn was tabbed the America East Defensive Player of the Week twice. In the season opener, Bowers had a record-setting day, scoring five goals and totaling six points, both program records for a player in their collegiate debut. In the second week of the season, Goldie exploded for seven goals and four assists, including five goals and two assists against Merrimack, to help propel her team to a 2-0 week. Meanwhile, Kuhn was stellar in her first two starts, making nine saves against Stonehill and 16 against Quinnipiac to help lead her team to a 2-0 week.
 
SCOUTING UMBC
The Retrievers come to Lowell following a 13-8 victory over New Hampshire. Attack Grace Bruce leads the Retrievers with 37 goals, good for the third most in the America East. Behind her, Kolby Weedon totals 22 goals and 11 assists for 33 points, while Mary Ellis tallies a team-high 20 assists. On defense, Avery Corino has a team-best eight caused turnovers while collecting 12 ground balls. In net, senior Isabella Fontana has started all ten games, making 59 saves for a .415 save percentage, good for a 6-3 record.
 
A WIN WOULD
A win against UMBC would move the River Hawks to 9-2, extending the program record for wins in the season, while also netting the team's first conference victory of the year.
 
MATCHUP HISTORY
The River Hawks and Retrievers have faced off eight times, with the Retrievers claiming victory in each match. The last time they faced in Lowell, UMBC earned a 12-11 win in the final seconds.