LOWELL, Mass. –  Coming off a hard-fought loss in the conference opener, the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team (4-6, 0-1 AE) returns home to host the Bryant Bulldogs (6-4, 1-0 AE) on Saturday, March 28.

LAST TIME OUT
Junior Emily Dodd (Calgary, Alberta) finished with a team-high four points, as the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team fell to the UAlbany Great Danes, 19-10, in the team's first conference game of the season. Dodd, who finished with three goals and an assist, was one of six River Hawks to record at least a point. Senior Grace Lydon (Rowley, Mass.) finished with a hat trick as well, while senior Macy Shultz (Adams, N.Y.) tied her with three points off a goal and two assists. Freshman Brienne Brezynskie (Elmira, Ontario) added a goal and an assist, while junior Bronwyn Hilbert (Lancaster, Pa.) and redshirt freshman Chiara Pompei (Catonsville, Md.) each chipped in with a goal. In net, freshman Lauren Lorentzen (Carlsbad, Ca.) made six saves in her fourth career start.

LEADING THE FLOCK
Through ten games, Hilbert paces the squad with 26 points, while junior Chloe Bowers (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) sits right behind her with a team-best 23 goals alongside one assist for 24 points. Leading the team with assists, Shultz adds 11 helpers on the season, with Lydon wrapping up 20-point scorers with 16 goals and five assists.  Leading the squad on the draw, senior Rachel Stax (Milton, Ga.) totals 29 draw controls, while sophomore Madison Carter (Baltimore, Md.) leads the defense with 11 caused turnovers. In net, junior Alexa Kuhn (Rocky Point, N.Y.) has started six of ten games, making 56 saves while allowing 56 goals, good for a .500 save percentage and a 2-3 record, while Lorentzen has made 17 saves in four starts.

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
In the first-ever match against Furman, the River Hawks' offense reached a new level, scoring 20 goals and a program-record 15 assists, surpassing the previous record of 12 set back in the 2017 season. Individually, Bowers finished with seven goals, the second-most goals and points in a game in program history, while Shultz added seven points as well with six assists, tying the single-game program record set by now assistant coach Megan Brockbank when she also finished with six assists and a goal against New Hampshire during the 2021 campaign.

WEEKLY WINNERS
After a pair of excellent performances in week one, Kuhn was named the America East Goalkeeper of the Week while Brezynskie was tabbed the conference's Rookie of the Week. Against the Jaspers, Kuhn started her season strong in net, allowing only six goals while making 11 saves on 28 shots faced, good for a .647 save percentage and her 17^th career double-digit save performance. Meanwhile, Brezynskie left her mark in her first collegiate game, posting a hat trick, including the game-winner. Not only impressing on the offensive end, but she also filled up the box score all over the field, tallying two ground balls, two caused turnovers, and two draw controls.

SCOUTING BRYANT
The Bulldogs enter Saturday's contest coming off a 12-6 loss to Bryant last week, but earned a win in their first conference game of the season, taking down Vermont 8-7. Leading the way for the Bryant offense is Gabrielle Constant, who totals 28 goals and six assists for 34 points, while Elise Larsen's 14 assists and 28 points rank first and second on the squad, respectively. In net, Sierra Donis has started nine of the team's 10 games, making 49 saves while allowing 76 goals, good for a .392 save percentage and 9.40 goals against average. 

MATCHUP HISTORY
Saturday marks the ninth time the two teams have battled, with the Bulldogs owning a 7-2 record in the all-time series. The River Hawks last earned a win in the series during the 2024 season, taking down the conference rival 16-13 at home.