River Hawks Remain Unbeaten in Conference Play After 0-0 Draw vs. Vermont

Thursday, October 1

Lowell, Mass.

6PM

University of Massachusetts Lowell

3-4-4, 0-0-3

Vermont

3-4-4, 1-0-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Vermont	0	0	0
UMass Lowell	0	0	0

River Hawks Remain Unbeaten in Conference Play After 0-0 Draw vs. Vermont

10/1/2026 8:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

LOWELL, Mass. – For the first time in program history, the UMass Lowell women's soccer team (3-4-4, 0-0-3 AE) remained unbeaten against the trio of Binghamton, Maine and Vermont. The River Hawks battled the Catamounts (3-4-4, 1-0-1 AE) to a 0-0 stalemate at Cushing Field on Thursday night.

"It was a tough game, and Vermont is always a good team," said Head Coach Mira Novak. "I'm really happy to get a shutout against a team that has some weapons. For me, I don't think we created enough in the final third and a tie is a fair result here."

Binghamton, Maine and Vermont were all ranked in the top three of the America East preseason poll, and one of the programs has won the conference every season since 2021. The River Hawks earned points against all three after playing them back-to-back-to-back to start America East play.

Junior goalkeeper Rachel Welch (Franklin, Mass.) earned her second shutout of the season, the third total for UMass Lowell this season. In the effort, Welch made five total saves, including two highlight-reel plays in the second half.

Overall, the River Hawk defense weathered 13 shots and seven corners from the Catamounts. Sophomore Kiera Fitzpatrick (Methuen, Mass.) led UMass Lowell with three shots.

Vermont logged the first shot at around seven minutes after earning an early corner kick. Slick passes from junior Nuala Rodgers (Dedham, Mass.) and senior Eliana Parreira (Chelmsford, Mass.) set up a strong chance for the River Hawks at 18 minutes, but they weren't able to rattle off a shot.

"Especially in the first half, Eliana was fantastic," Novak said. "She's one of the leaders on the team and sets the pace. I really enjoyed watching her, and there were some other great performances. [Franzisca Sinclair] was great and our midfield was very good again."

The River Hawks recorded their first shot a few minutes later, with Fitzpatrick firing one off. Fellow sophomore Nina Hertz-Saebbö (Gothenburg, Sweden) forced the Catamounts to make a save at 25 minutes.

Neither team mustered much offense in the first half, and the squads went to the locker room deadlocked at 0-0.

Early in the half, Fitzpatrick made a strong run, leading to a shot opportunity that just missed. Another shot off the foot of the forward led to a corner, where senior Franzisca Sinclair (Frankfurt, Germany) powered a header towards the goal. Vermont made a save to keep it even.

The teams battled with strong scoring opportunities, as Parreira put a shot on goal for the River Hawks. Soon after, the Catamounts put a shot on, but Welch dove to make the save. The UMass Lowell keeper followed it with a spectacular leaping save to keep it tied.

The Vermont offense applied pressure late but couldn't find paydirt. With seven minutes left, senior Marissa Sage (Milford, N.H.) took a shot from just outside the box that was saved.

A late UMass Lowell handball gave Vermont a free kick just outside the box. However, the Catamounts' shot sailed high over the goal.

Time trickled away and neither team could get on the board. Next, the River Hawks have over a week before their next match on Sunday, October 11, at UAlbany. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. against the Great Danes.