Saturday, October 3
Lowell, Mass.
6PM
University of Massachusetts Lowell
vs
UAlbany
River Hawks Host UAlbany in Conference Home Opener
10/2/2026 11:07:00 AM | Men's Soccer
LOWELL, Mass. – After scoring three goals in just over three minutes to earn a win in the conference opener, the UMass Lowell men's soccer team (5-2-2, 1-0-0 AE) returns home to host the UAlbany Great Danes (5-2-1, 1-0-0 AE) in a rematch of last year's America East Quarterfinals match on Saturday, October 3. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Cushing Field.
LAST TIME OUT
The River Hawks enter Saturday's match after taking down UMBC, 3-2, behind a trio of goals in three minutes. Senior Alex Champagne (Pembroke Pines, Fl.) found the back of the net for the first time this season, while junior Santiago Somorrostro (Nashua, N.H.) added his second goal this year and junior Justin Godbout-Garon scored his team-leading third goal in as many matches. Also contributing to the points column, junior Fredrik Moen (Sarpsborg, Norway) recorded two assists, while senior Linus Musielak (Dortmund, Germany) and junior Sho Kinjo (Nara, Japan) each added one. In net, junior Moritz Aé (Leipzig, Germany) made a career-high nine saves in net.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Through nine games, Godbout-Garon paces the squad with nine points, while leading the squad with three goals. Behind him, Musielak leads the team with four assists while adding a goal to sit second with six points. Somorrostro ranks third on the team with five points, while three River Hawks round out the top five with four points apiece. In net, junior Moritz Aé (Leipzig, Germany) has made 34 saves with only seven goals allowed in seven starts, good for a 5-0-2 record. Junior Alvaro Medrano (Guatemala City, Guatemala), meanwhile, has made seven saves with two goals allowed in two starts.
FRESH FACES
The newest members of the team have already made an impact on the program, as 11 newcomers have made at least one start this year, while junior Jonah Straube (Frankfurt, Germany) leads the newcomers with eight starts. Additionally, six of the new River Hawks have contributed to the team's scoring, with Godbout-Garon leading the team with nine points.
FOREVER A RIVER HAWK
In July, the River Hawks lost a friend and teammate when junior goalkeeper Toby Forsythe (Columbus, Ohio) passed away in a tragic accident. The River Hawks will honor him every game this season by wearing warm-up shirts with his name and number before every match. Additionally, all the River Hawks' jerseys now feature a "Toby 32" patch on the sleeve.
GONE STREAKING
Heading into Saturday's contest, the River Hawks are currently riding a four-game winning streak, tied for the second longest streak in the country. In that stretch, they have outscored their opponents 11-5, and have trailed in only 54 minutes of gametime.
DEFENDING HOME TURF
The River Hawks have excelled at home so far this season, owning a 2-0-1 record in three matches. Taking down CCSU, 2-1, in the home opener behind a goal in the 85th minute by Agyare-Danso, the team followed up with a 0-0 tie against Holy Cross before taking down Manhattan in the final seconds.
AWARD WINNERS
Coming off a pair of impressive performances, Godbout-Garon was named the America East Offensive Player of the Week, while Dufraiche was tabbed the America East Defensive Player of the Week in the same week. Against Merrimack, Godbout-Garon scored the lone goal of the match, before following up with a goal against Manhattan. Dufraiche, meanwhile, added an assist in the Manhattan game before scoring the game-winner in the 90th minute. The two awards marked the first of the season for the squad.
GOALS GALORE
On the road against Iona, the River Hawks' offense caught fire, tying a Division I program record with five goals scored, matching the same total when they took down CCSU 5-0 during the 2023 season. Against the Gaels, Oldenburg scored the first two goals of his career, Kinjo added his first career goal as well, and Musielak and Agyare-Danso wrapped the scoring up with a goal each.
SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES
UAlbany enters Saturday's contest with a 5-2-1 record, most recently taking down New Hampshire 2-0 in their conference opener. Leading the Great Danes' offense is senior midfielder Ivar Gissuararson, who paces his squad with four goals and 11 points in eight games. Right behind him, Luca Clausse adds nine points behind a team-best five assists, with Yuta Kimata rounding out the top three with eight points. In net, Alexander Genz has started all eight matches, allowing 10 goals with 16 saves, good for a 0.615 save percentage and a 5-2-1 record.
MATCHUP HISTORY
The River Hawks and Great Danes have gone to battle 16 times, and although UAlbany owns a slight, 7-6-3 edge, UMass Lowell owns a 5-1-1 record in the all-time series at home. The last time the two sides faced off was in the 2025 America East Quarterfinals, where the River Hawks came out on top in a shootout victory following a goalie goal in the 90th minute to send the contest to overtime.
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LAST TIME OUT
The River Hawks enter Saturday's match after taking down UMBC, 3-2, behind a trio of goals in three minutes. Senior Alex Champagne (Pembroke Pines, Fl.) found the back of the net for the first time this season, while junior Santiago Somorrostro (Nashua, N.H.) added his second goal this year and junior Justin Godbout-Garon scored his team-leading third goal in as many matches. Also contributing to the points column, junior Fredrik Moen (Sarpsborg, Norway) recorded two assists, while senior Linus Musielak (Dortmund, Germany) and junior Sho Kinjo (Nara, Japan) each added one. In net, junior Moritz Aé (Leipzig, Germany) made a career-high nine saves in net.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Through nine games, Godbout-Garon paces the squad with nine points, while leading the squad with three goals. Behind him, Musielak leads the team with four assists while adding a goal to sit second with six points. Somorrostro ranks third on the team with five points, while three River Hawks round out the top five with four points apiece. In net, junior Moritz Aé (Leipzig, Germany) has made 34 saves with only seven goals allowed in seven starts, good for a 5-0-2 record. Junior Alvaro Medrano (Guatemala City, Guatemala), meanwhile, has made seven saves with two goals allowed in two starts.
FRESH FACES
The newest members of the team have already made an impact on the program, as 11 newcomers have made at least one start this year, while junior Jonah Straube (Frankfurt, Germany) leads the newcomers with eight starts. Additionally, six of the new River Hawks have contributed to the team's scoring, with Godbout-Garon leading the team with nine points.
FOREVER A RIVER HAWK
In July, the River Hawks lost a friend and teammate when junior goalkeeper Toby Forsythe (Columbus, Ohio) passed away in a tragic accident. The River Hawks will honor him every game this season by wearing warm-up shirts with his name and number before every match. Additionally, all the River Hawks' jerseys now feature a "Toby 32" patch on the sleeve.
GONE STREAKING
Heading into Saturday's contest, the River Hawks are currently riding a four-game winning streak, tied for the second longest streak in the country. In that stretch, they have outscored their opponents 11-5, and have trailed in only 54 minutes of gametime.
DEFENDING HOME TURF
The River Hawks have excelled at home so far this season, owning a 2-0-1 record in three matches. Taking down CCSU, 2-1, in the home opener behind a goal in the 85th minute by Agyare-Danso, the team followed up with a 0-0 tie against Holy Cross before taking down Manhattan in the final seconds.
AWARD WINNERS
Coming off a pair of impressive performances, Godbout-Garon was named the America East Offensive Player of the Week, while Dufraiche was tabbed the America East Defensive Player of the Week in the same week. Against Merrimack, Godbout-Garon scored the lone goal of the match, before following up with a goal against Manhattan. Dufraiche, meanwhile, added an assist in the Manhattan game before scoring the game-winner in the 90th minute. The two awards marked the first of the season for the squad.
GOALS GALORE
On the road against Iona, the River Hawks' offense caught fire, tying a Division I program record with five goals scored, matching the same total when they took down CCSU 5-0 during the 2023 season. Against the Gaels, Oldenburg scored the first two goals of his career, Kinjo added his first career goal as well, and Musielak and Agyare-Danso wrapped the scoring up with a goal each.
SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES
UAlbany enters Saturday's contest with a 5-2-1 record, most recently taking down New Hampshire 2-0 in their conference opener. Leading the Great Danes' offense is senior midfielder Ivar Gissuararson, who paces his squad with four goals and 11 points in eight games. Right behind him, Luca Clausse adds nine points behind a team-best five assists, with Yuta Kimata rounding out the top three with eight points. In net, Alexander Genz has started all eight matches, allowing 10 goals with 16 saves, good for a 0.615 save percentage and a 5-2-1 record.
MATCHUP HISTORY
The River Hawks and Great Danes have gone to battle 16 times, and although UAlbany owns a slight, 7-6-3 edge, UMass Lowell owns a 5-1-1 record in the all-time series at home. The last time the two sides faced off was in the 2025 America East Quarterfinals, where the River Hawks came out on top in a shootout victory following a goalie goal in the 90th minute to send the contest to overtime.
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Players Mentioned
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GK
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GK
/ Men's Soccer
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F
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F
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D
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