River Hawks Trek to Vermont, Welcome Sacred Heart for Youth Day

LOWELL, Mass. – After opening America East Conference action with a win at home, the UMass Lowell field hockey team (6-5) heads to league foe Vermont on Friday, October 9, at 3 p.m. The River Hawks are then set to return home to host non-conference opponent Sacred Heart for Youth Day on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m.

RIVER HAWK REWIND
The River Hawks went 1-1 last week, first defeating America East challenger Bryant, 1-0, at home on Oct. 2 before forcing Providence into overtime on the road in what would also be a 1-0 decision on Oct. 4. Junior Audrey Carter (Dover, N.H.) scored the team's lone goal of the week in the opening minutes against Bryant, while sophomore goalkeeper Megan MacMiller (Tarzana, Calif.) registered five saves for the week, including four in the fourth quarter at Providence.

LEADING THE FLOCK
Junior Audrey Carter joins Alice Van Hemelen (Tervuren, Belgium) and Alexa Guarneri (Hockessin, Del.) to lead the team with 12 points apiece so far in 2026. Guarneri paces the team with six goals, while Carter and Van Hemelen total five goals and two assists apiece. Senior Florine Gerrits (Amstelveen, Netherlands) has tallied a team-leading six assists. Sophomore goalkeeper Megan MacMiller (Tarzana, Calif.) has saved 21 shots, and classmate Veerle Mous (Breda, Netherlands) follows up with 17 saves to combine for a 1.33 goals-against average.

SERIES HISTORY
The River Hawks are 11-16-1 all-time against Vermont, having won the 2025 meeting against the Catamounts. UMass Lowell is 5-0 in the all-time series against Sacred Heart, but has not squared off against the Pioneers since 2021.

HOME SWEET HOME
The River Hawks are undefeated at home in 2026, winning five consecutive games at Wicked Blue Field so far this season. The team has allowed just one goal in that stretch of games, outscoring the opposition 18-1 on home turf.

DEFENSIVE STATE OF MIND
The River Hawks have been incredibly strong on defense this year, boasting the second-best goals against average in the America East (1.36). The 1.36 mark is the team's best goals against average since 2023 when they went 14-4 and won the league's regular-season title.

TIP OF THE CAP
Against New Haven on Sept. 11, Alexa Guarneri logged her first career hat trick and the program's first hat trick since Ava Clark scored three goals of her own against New Haven back in 2025.

WEEKLY AWARDS
Frédèrique van Den Dungen earned her second straight weekly award on Oct. 6, this time being named Defensive Player of the Week. Megan MacMiller and van Den Dungen earned Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Week, respectively, on Sept. 29. Alexa Guarneri received America East Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 15 for tallying eight points in a 2-0 week against New Haven and Merrimack. Previously, Veerle Mous was named America East Goalkeeper of the Week on Sept. 1 after logging a 0.00 GAA in 60 minutes of action at Stanford and UC Davis.

STIFF COMPETITION
The River Hawks have now faced three nationally ranked opponents this season, including No. 12 Syracuse. Since 2021, the team has challenged 18 nationally ranked opponents, with 12 of the 15 setbacks being decided by two goals or fewer.

OF NOTE
Freshman Mae Kemps scored her first career goal at Syracuse (9.18) … freshman Ella Sluder (Allentown, N.J.) scored her first career goal against New Haven (9.11) … Megan MacMiller logged a personal-best five saves at Massachusetts (9.6).

River Hawks Trek to Vermont, Welcome Sacred Heart for Youth Day

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Players Mentioned

Audrey Carter

Florine Gerrits

Alexa Guarneri

Mae Kemps

Megan MacMiller

Veerle Mous

Ella Sluder

Alice Van Hemelen

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