LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell men’s soccer team's 2025 season was one to remember, as the River Hawks posted their best season to date under Head Coach Kyle Zenoni, reaching the America East Semifinals for the first time since 2019.

The River Hawks finished the 2025 campaign with a 7-7-4 overall record, including a 2-3-2 mark in conference play, earning the team the sixth seed in the America East Tournament and their first playoff appearance since 2019. The 16-game regular season schedule featured a plethora of exciting games, including a pair of goals in the final minutes to earn two massive conference wins.

NEWCOMER RELEASE

Ahead of the season, Zenoni announced his largest incoming class yet. The group of 17 new River Hawks featured nine transfers alongside eight true freshmen to round out his roster for the new year. 

UML 0, #2 UVM 0 – RECAP

Going up against the defending national champions and the #2 team in the country on the road, UMass Lowell knew it would be in for a battle against Vermont. The River Hawks stood strong, though, as multiple members of the defense played a full 90 minutes en route to holding the Catamounts to only one shot on goal, which Ortega saved, to earn the scoreless draw in Burlington. The shutout marked the first time Vermont was held scoreless at home since 2019.

NO. 6 UML 3, NO. 3 UALBANY 3 - RECAP

After battling to a 1-1 draw in the regular season finale against UAlbany, the Great Danes and River Hawks squared off again only four days later in the first round of the America East Playoffs. Although senior Oscar Perez (Sagunto, Spain) and junior Alex Champagne (Pembroke Pines, Fl.) each found the back of the net in the first half for a commanding 2-0 lead, the Great Danes’ offense roared to life, tallying three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead with just over 20 minutes to play. With under a minute to play and the season on the line, the River Hawks capitalized on a free kick near midfield, as Musielak sent the ball just in front of the net, which Ortega collected before sending it under the Great Dane’s keeper’s legs, sending the game to overtime off a goalie goal. Following a scoreless overtime, the two teams battled to an even, 4-4 shootout through five rounds, but in the sixth and final round, Champagne buried his attempt before Ortega made a remarkable kick save to send his team to the semifinals.

NO. 6 UML 2, NO.2 BRYANT 4 - RECAP 

Looking for their first America East Championship berth since 2017, the River Hawks once again hit the road, this time to take on #2 Bryant. The Bulldogs opened the game strong, scoring twice in the first five minutes before adding a third goal in the 29th minute for a 3-0 lead. With their backs against the wall, UMass Lowell put up a remarkable fight, as Young scored in the 43rd minute, followed by another River Hawks' goal right after halftime, cutting the deficit to one score. Continuing to fire off shots at the opposing keeper, the River Hawks nearly scored the equalizer in the 53rd minute off the foot of senior Iñaki Esnaola (Junin, Argentina), but Bryant locked down defensively before adding a goal with under 30 seconds to play, sealing the 4-2 final score.

Throughout the 2025 season, UMass Lowell split time between two goalkeepers, with Ortega starting in 11 of 18 games. The graduate student proved to be a key piece for the team down the stretch, starting in all but one conference game, as well as both playoff games. Although his goal proved to be the highlight of the night against UAlbany, he also proved to be a wall in net in the playoffs, making a career-high eight saves against the Great Danes while earning two stops in the shootout, as well. Meanwhile, freshman Alvaro Medrano (Guatemala City, Guatemala) made a name for himself early, posting clean sheets in his first two starts, including a nine-save performance at Houston Christian. He didn’t stop there, though, as he earned another shutout against Merrimack to help finish with a .787 save percentage for the season.

In front of the resilient goalkeeping unit, the UMass Lowell defense proved to be up for any challenge all year long, highlighted by Nakajima, Perez, senior Mauro Fernandez (Fitchburg, Mass.), and sophomore Cristiano Da Silva (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia). All four players logged over 1000 minutes of action and appeared in at least 14 games, while Nakajima led the team with 17 starts. As a team, the River Hawks allowed one goal or less in 10 of their 18 games, while posting shutouts against Houston Christian, University of the Incarnate Word, Merrimack, Binghamton, Vermont, and NJIT. 

Behind Musielak, Pham had a strong debut season at UMass Lowell, finishing second on the team with six points (2g, 2a) in only eight games played, while Young surged in the second half of the season, adding five points in the final seven games. Champagne and Perez finished tied for fourth with four points off two goals each, while Nakajima and Musielak each finished with three assists to lead the team.