LOWELL, Mass. –  Coming off a hard-fought defeat last week, the UMass Lowell men's soccer team (3-2-1) welcomes Merrimack (2-2-1) to town on Tuesday, September 16, for Alumni Day before hitting the road once again to play Brown (2-2-0) on Saturday, September 20.

LAST TIME OUT
The River Hawks enter Tuesday's match coming off a 3-1 lost to recently ranked Massachusetts last Wednesday night. Against the Minutemen, junior Linus Musielak (Dortmund, Germany) scored his second goal of the season, while registering a shot on goal, one of three River Hawks to do so. Senior Oliver Holmstrom (Gävle, Sweden) tallied two on two shots, while sophomore Matteo Costa (Frankfurt am Main, Germany) finished with one on his lone shot. Redshirt sophomore Justin Pham (Liverpool, N.Y.) led the team with four shots, and in net, graduate student Jorge Ortega (Tijuana B.C., Mexico) made three saves in the start.

LEADING THE FLOCK
Through five games, Musielak and Pham each lead the team with four points, with Musielak tallying two goals and Pham a goal and two assists. Right behind them, Holmstrom, senior Iñaki Esnaola (Junin, Argentina) and sophomore Henry Wohlt (Milwaukee, Wis.) each have a goal, sophomore Crisitano Da Silva (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) adds two assists, and senior Junyoung Hwang (Gimpo, South Korea) rounds out the scoring with an assist. Senior Mauro Fernandez (Fitchburg, Mass.) paces the team in minutes played with 437, while Fernandez, Pham and graduate student Shunnosuke Nakajima (Yokohama, Japan), represent the three River Hawks to start in all six games. In net, the River Hawks have split time between two goalies, with Ortega making ten saves and allowing five goals, while freshman Alvaro Medrano (Guatemala City, Guatemala) has made 18 saves with one goal allowed in three starts.

WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
After making 11 saves without allowing a goal in his first two collegiate appearances, Medrano was named the America East Defensive Player and Rookie of the Week in week two. Not only did the awards mark the first for UMass Lowell this season, but it is the first time a River Hawk has earned both awards in the same week.

FRESH FACES
Ten of the newest River Hawks have made at least three appearances so far this season, with six earning at least three starts. Three of the team's six goals have come off the foot of a newcomer, while three newcomers have accumulated at least 300 minutes of playtime.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
The Warriors enter Tuesdays match after battling to a 1-1 draw against Dartmouth on Saturday night. Leading the way offensively for Merrimack are Alessandro Bedei and Keller Cassidy, who each lead the team with four points and two goals. Right behind them, Adam Abdelaal and Herman Rugland each add a goal of their own, while Beniah Hanson tallies two assists. In net, Nelton Semedo has started four of the team's five games, making 16 saves while allowing five goals, good for a .762 save percentage.

SCOUTING BROWN
The Brown Bears enter Saturday's match after a midweek battle against Rhode Island. Currently, Brown owns a two-game losing streak, most recently falling to the UConn Huskies, 3-1, who are currently receiving ranked votes. Leading the team on offense is Mads Stistrup Petersen, who has three goals, scoring one in each of the team's first three matches. Behind him, two other members of the team have a goal, while Lorenzo Amaral tallies two assists. In net, Henrik Weiper has started all four games, making nine saves with seven goals allowed, good for a .562 save percentage.

MATCHUP HISTORY
The River Hawks and Warriors have faced off five times at the Division I level, with the series tied 2-2-1 all-time. Last season, the River Hawks earned a 2-1 victory on the road behind two goals from Guillermo Francés Poquet. Meanwhile, UMass Lowell and Brown have battled six times, with the Brown Bears owning a 5-1 advantage all-time.

A WIN WOULD
A win in both games would improve the River Hawks to 5-2-1 on the season, marking the second-best start under Head Coach Kyle Zenoni, only behind last season's 5-1-2 start. A win over the Warriors would mark two straight against them, while a win over Brown would mark the first win in the series since 2016.