LOWELL, Mass. – After taking down Bryant for their second straight conference win, the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team (11-4, 2-2 AE) hits the road for the last time in the regular season to take on the UAlbany Great Danes (4-9, 3-1 AE) on Saturday, April 20.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Freshman Chloe Bowers (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) set the program record for most goals in a season, as the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team (11-4, 2-2 AE) earned a hard-fought, 16-13 victory over the Bryant Bulldogs (8-5, 2-2 AE) on Saturday afternoon. Bowers, who now sits at 45 goals on the season, led the team with six points off four goals and two assists. Behind her, junior Jade Catlin (Middletown, Md.) scored four goals alongside an assist, while sophomore Grace Lydon (Rowley, Mass.) finished with a hat trick. Sophomore Macy Shultz (Adams, N.Y.) chipped in with two goals, while senior Megan Brockbank (Bayport, N.Y.) and sophomore Mia Mitchell (Akwesasne, N.Y.) each added one. Between the pipes, freshman Alexa Kuhn (Rocky Point, N.Y.) made 14 saves in the victory.

HITTING THE ROAD
Earlier this season, the River Hawks embarked on a season-long six-game road trip, that lasted over a month. 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.
 
REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
The River Hawks have set a plethora of program records this season, beginning when they took Presbyterian for their eighth win, a new program high. Weeks later, Brockbank reached the 125-point milestone, becoming the program's new all-time points leader. Finally, in her first season, Bowers set the record for most goals in a season by a River Hawk when she scored for the 45^th time in the win over Bryant.
 
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Anchored by multiple seasoned veterans, UMass Lowell's defense has been a key part of the team's success this season. Through the first 15 games, the defensive unit ranks 28th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 10.07 goals per game, propelling the River Hawks to the 13th-best scoring margin in the country (+4.67). Meanwhile, the team also tallies 8.93 caused turnovers per game, good for the 38th most in Division I, while Kuhn ranks 29th among all goalkeepers with only 10.43 goals allowed per game.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
Bowers paces the squad with 45 goals and 54 points and adds 19 draw controls after the first 15 games, while Goldie totals a team-high 14 assists. Right behind Bowers, Catlin has tallied 39 goals, including a program-record eight against Winthrop, and ranks second on her team with 22 ground balls. On defense, graduate student Julia Napolitano (Oakdale, N.Y.) posts a team-best 25 ground balls and 21 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 118 saves in 707 minutes, good for a 9-4 record.
 
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
The freshmen have left their mark early on UMass Lowell, as Bowers has been named America East Rookie of the Week five times, Goldie has earned the honor three times, and Kuhn has been 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. 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. This week, Bowers earned her fifth weekly honor after posting her ninth hat trick of the season against Massachusetts, before following up with four goals and two assists to help lead her team to a win over Bryant.

SCOUTING UALBANY
The Great Danes welcome the River Hawks to town amidst a two-game losing streak, falling to UMBC and UConn in back-to-back weeks. Leading the UAlbany offense is Katie Pascale, who totals 32 assists and 69, both leading the America East. Pascale also totals 68 draw controls, 17 caused turnovers, and 31 ground balls, all ranking second on her team. In net, Grace Cincebox has started all 13 games, totaling 124 saves in 757 minutes, good for a .404 save percentage.

A WIN WOULD
A win against UAlbany would mark the first win over the Great Danes and would extend the program record for most wins in a season.

MATCHUP HISTORY
UMass Lowell and UAlbany have battled five times, with the Great Danes owning an 8-0 record. Last season, the two teams battled it out at Cushing Field, where the visitors took home a 19-13 win.