LOWELL, Mass. – After falling in a hard-fought defensive battle the last time out, the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team (11-5, 2-3 AE) will celebrate Senior Day and close out the regular season at home against the Vermont Catamounts (8-7, 1-4 AE) on Saturday, April 27.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Junior Jade Catlin (Middletown, Md.) tallied three goals in the first quarter as the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team (11-5, 2-3 AE) fell to the UAlbany Great Danes (5-9, 4-1 AE), 10-7, on Saturday afternoon. Catlin, who tallied her tenth hat trick of the season, was one of four River Hawks to tally three points. Joining her with three goals was sophomore Macy Shultz (Adams, N.Y.), who also caused a turnover. Freshman Jillian Goldie (Owen Sound, Ontario) added a game-high three assists, while sophomore Grace Lydon (Rowley, Mass.) chipped in with a goal and two assists. In net, freshman Alexa Kuhn (Rocky Point, N.Y.) made ten saves.

SENIOR DAY CELEBRATION
Ahead of the game, the River Hawks will honor graduate students Caroline Klim (Wrentham, Mass.), Julia Napolitano (Oakdale, N.Y.), and seniors Megan Brockbank (Bayport, N.Y.), Rylee Kelly (Harwood, Md.), Katie Lindstrom (North Attleboro, Mass.), Jaime Notarangelo (Foxborough, Mass.), Emerson Laundry (Swampscott, Mass.), Kiley McCarthy (North Reading, Mass.), and Jillian Schumacher (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) with a Senior Day ceremony.
 
PLAYOFF CHASE
Heading into Saturday's match, the River Hawks could make more program history, as they have a shot to make the America East Playoffs for the first time. In addition to needing a win over Vermont, they will need help from Binghamton in beating Bryant to secure the postseason opportunity.

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 down Presbyterian for their eighth win, a new program high. Weeks later, senior Megan Brockbank (Bayport, N.Y.) reached the 125-point milestone, becoming the program's new all-time points leader. Finally, in her first season, freshman Chloe Bowers (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) set the record for most goals in a season by a River Hawk when she scored for the 45th 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 16 games, the defensive unit ranks 27th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 10.06 goals per game, propelling the River Hawks to the 18th-best scoring margin in the country (+4.19). Meanwhile, the team also tallies 8.88 caused turnovers per game, ranking second in the America East, while Kuhn ranks sixth among all goalkeepers in the nation with a .492 save percentage.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
Bowers paces the squad with 45 goals and 54 points and adds 19 draw controls through 16 games, while Goldie totals a team-high 17 assists. Right behind Bowers, Catlin has tallied 42 goals, including a program-record eight against Winthrop, and ranks second on her team with 24 ground balls. On defense, graduate student Julia Napolitano (Oakdale, N.Y.) posts a team-best 29 ground balls and 24 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 129 saves in 767 minutes, good for a 9-5 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. Last 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 VERMONT
Vermont comes to town on a two-game win streak, most recently taking down Rutgers, 11-10, on Sunday. The Catamount offense, which averages 11.47 goals per game, is led by Ava Vasile, who totals 53 goals and 13 assists on the season. The midfielder also sits first on the team with 59 draw controls and 21 caused turnovers while adding 23 ground balls. Charlotte Nevins leads the defense, totaling 21 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers, and 34 draw controls. In net, Anna Rosenberger has started all but one game, posting a .416 save percentage and a 7-7 record.
 
A WIN WOULD
A win against Vermont would mark the first win over the Catamounts since 2019. It would also extend the program record for most wins in a season.
 
MATCHUP HISTORY
UMass Lowell and Vermont have battled nine times, with the Catamounts owning a 7-2 record. The River Hawks' last victory in the series came at home in 2019 when they earned a thrilling 19-18 win on Senior Day.