LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's soccer team (3-3-3) (0-0-1) travels to Baltimore, Md., this Sunday, September 28, to face off against UMBC (4-4-3) (0-1-0) in their second conference game of the season at Retriever Soccer Park. Kickoff is set to start at 1:00 p.m.
September 28 @ UMBC
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Looking at UMass Lowell
The River Hawks began America East play last Sunday when they hosted NJIT for a Sunday afternoon showdown, with both sides fighting to a 1-1 draw. Sophomore Gaby Eckroth (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) tallied a goal for the second straight game, bringing her total to four goals on the season. Sophomore Rachel Welch (Franklin, Mass.) started in net for the River Hawks, making six saves in the contest. Redshirt freshman Nina Hertz-Saebbö (Gothenburg, Sweden) also offered three shot attempts over the course of the game.
Scouting the Retrievers
UMBC enters Sunday's game after falling 2-1 at Binghamton in the Retriever's first conference game of the season. Senior Delainey Varela-Keen tallied the lone goal against the Bearcats, as graduate student Kalli Williams got the start in net, recording three saves. The Retrievers are currently sitting at a 4-4-3 overall record, with a 0-1-0 America East record.
Sophomore Zoe Brossman has tallied the most goals on the team so far with three, while also tying for first in points (7) with junior Payton Schenning. Schenning also leads the team in assists (3) and shots (28). Freshman Olivia Nardone has logged the most minutes on the team (990) so far. Williams has appeared in goal 11 times this season, starting in seven games, while making 40 saves for a .833 save percentage. Senior Sara Gavagan has started in four games, earning 10 saves for a .909 save percentage, while holding a 2-1 record in net.
UMBC Matchup History
The River Hawks are currently leading the all-time series with the Retrievers at a 8-3-1 overall record. The most recent matchup ended in a 2-1 decision for UMBC on September 29, 2024. UMass Lowell owns a 3-1-1 away record over the Retrievers, while also having an 8-3-1 conference record against UMBC.
Goals on Goals
The River Hawks recorded five goals in their last non-conference game of the season against New Haven, 5-1, on September 14. This is the most since 2022, scoring five times in a 5-0 win over Stonehill on September 1.
Leading the Flock Senior
Senior Maddie Guthrie (Stow, Mass.) still ranks first on the team in assists (3) after nine games, while also leading the team in minutes played (695). Freshman Emma Theorén (Sollentuna, Vällingby) is tied for second on the team in assists (2) with senior Nadja Andersen (Nakskov, Denmark) and sophomore Nuala Rodgers (Dedham, Mass.). Senior Megan Banzi (Plymouth, Mass.) sits in second behind Guthrie for most minutes registered (665). Eckroth leads the team in goals (4) and points (8), as freshman Nora Belin (Stockholm, Sweden) is right behind with three goals and six points. Hertz-Saebbö has posted the most shots on the team with 21, as junior Marissa Sage (Milford, N.H.) ranks second with 17 total shots.
Between the Posts
Welch began the 2025 season in net for the River Hawks, starting in seven matches so far. The Mass native has made 39 saves to earn a .780 save percentage in 630 minutes played, sitting at a 2-2-3 record on the season. Meanwhile, freshman Lucie Chumanová (Prague, Czech Republic) has started in two games this season, making 10 saves to post a .667 save percentage while owning a 1-1 record.
Around the America East
Eckroth is sitting in sixth in the conference in shots (15) and shots per game (2.50), as Hertz-Saebbö ranks eighth in shots (21) and shots per game (2.33).
Eckroth has jumped up to second in the America East in goals (4) and goals per game (.667), with Belin next up for the River Hawks, ranking in sixth with three goals and a .429 goals per game average. Also posting their names on the points leaderboard, Eckroth ranks third for points per game in the America East with 1.33, and Belin is sitting in seventh with a .86 points per game average.
Guthrie still sits in the top three of the conference in assists, currently ranking second with three total assists and 0.333 assists per game. Andersen ranks ninth in assists (2) and assists per game average (.250) in the America East, while Rodgers and Theorén are both behind and tied with two total assists.
In the goalkeeper rankings, Welch ranks first in saves per game with 5.57, while sitting in sixth for save percentage (.780), and third for both shutouts per game (.286) and shutouts (2) in the America East.
As a team, UMass Lowell currently leads the America East in shots (157), goals (16), and saves (51) so far. The River Hawks are also ranked second in the conference in points (16) and assists (14).
