River Hawks Use Strong Second Half to Take Down NJIT, 2-0

Sunday, October 25

Newark, N.J.

1PM

University of Massachusetts Lowell

5-6-4, 2-2-3

NJIT

4-10-2, 1-6-1

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

10/25/2026 4:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. – Two second-half goals boosted the UMass Lowell women's soccer team (5-6-4, 2-2-3 AE) past NJIT (4-10-2, 1-6-1 AE) 2-0. Redshirt freshman Elsa Freeman (Portland, Maine) scored the game-winner just three days after picking up her first collegiate goal.

The win positions next weekend's Senior Day matchup against Bryant as a win-and-in match for the 2026 America East Women's Soccer Championship. Kickoff at Cushing Field is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 1.

"I'm really happy for the team and for a great team win, especially because the pressure was on us today," said Head Coach Mira Novak. "I think it was an amazing second-half effort from the team with grit to fight our way out of [a slow start] and to score a great goal from Elsa, who kept a cool head."

In the contest, sophomore Nora Belin (Stockholm, Sweden) became UMass Lowell's Division I single-season assist leader. She recorded a secondary assist as senior Luka Marceau (Newton, Mass.) iced the match with a late open-net goal.

Junior goalkeeper Rachel Welch (Franklin, Mass.) earned her fourth shutout of the season with a four-save effort. As a team, the River Hawks have five shutouts, marking the third consecutive season they've had at least that many.

True freshman Ines Pietikainen (Espoo, Finland) logged her first collegiate points, setting up Marceau's goal after beating a defender and the goalkeeper to the ball. On Freeman's goal early in the second half, junior Nuala Rodgers (Dedham, Mass.) facilitated the score with a nice pass into the box, as senior Eliana Parreira (Chelmsford, Mass.) also earned an assist.

The River Hawk offense started out strong, earning a corner in the first two minutes and putting a few shots on net early. At 17 minutes, the Highlanders had a goal taken off the board due to an offside call.

A few of the River Hawks' strongest chances came off the cleats of their defenders, as freshman Märta Sundberg (Stockholm, Sweden) barely missed a shot off a corner kick. With just over 10 minutes left in the first half, senior defender Eliana Parreira (Chelmsford, Mass.) ripped off a strong shot that was saved.

Following a shot from senior Marceau with under a minute to go, the match went to the break 0-0. Overall, UMass Lowell controlled possession for much of the half. The River Hawks ended the first half outshooting the Highlanders 11-4.

NJIT started the second half with a few shots, but the River Hawk defense stood tall to keep it scoreless. However, the River Hawks broke through in the 61st minute.

Freeman netted her second collegiate goal just one match after the first, looping a shot into the top right corner to give UMass Lowell a 1-0 lead. Rodgers and Parreira recorded assists, as Rodgers found Freeman with space in the box.

The River Hawks added on in the last 15 minutes, as Belin and Pietikainen assisted Marceau's open-net goal.

UMass Lowell fended off the Highlanders for the final minutes to earn the shutout. Admission to next Sunday's home match against Bryant is free, courtesy of Eastern Salt and Mahoney Oil.