University of Massachusetts Lowell
Providence
River Hawks Set to Start 2026 Campaign
8/11/2026 7:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LOWELL, Mass. – When 6:30 p.m. rolls around on Wednesday, August 12, the UMass Lowell women’s soccer team will kick off the 2026 season. The River Hawks face Providence on the road to start the year, then welcome Fairfield to their home turf at 7 p.m. on August 16.
“For non-conference, we have a pretty tough start,” said Head Coach Mira Novak. “The first three games on our non-conference schedule are probably the three toughest. The team is really excited to compete in those games.”
Each of the first two opponents were strong in 2025, as Providence finished 6-6-4 and Fairfield went 15-2-2. By the 2025 NCAA RPI standings, the Stags are UMass Lowell’s toughest opponent in 2026. Fairfield ended the season No. 37 in the nation and carried its momentum into a No. 1 Metro Conference preseason ranking.
The Friars were ranked No. 6 in the Big East preseason poll, placing two on the Preseason All-Big East team. The River Hawks are in search of their first-ever victories against both programs.
“I’m really excited for this year’s team,” Novak said. “We have a really good mix of some of the younger players that are coming in and learning from the seniors, but we’re also returning the core from last year.”
UMass Lowell looks to build on last year’s success after a third-place America East finish and a 6-5-6 overall record in 2025. The team returns a staggering 72% of its points from last season and adds seven newcomers into the mix.
Leading the team’s returners are top point scorers Gaby Eckroth (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), Nora Belin (Stockholm, Sweden) and Nuala Rodgers (Dedham, Mass.). Belin was named America East Rookie of the Year in 2025 and headlines the America East Preseason All-Conference squad at forward this season.
Eckroth and Rodgers were each part of the America East All-Conference Second Team in 2025. Goalkeeper Rachel Welch (Franklin, Mass.) returns after posting five shutouts last season and holding opponents to just 1.12 goals per match.
“When I look at the team, I don’t think there’s one particular player that’s going to carry,” Novak said. “That’s the exciting part. The best player on the team is the team.”
Marissa Sage (Milford, N.H.), Franzisca Sinclair (Frankfurt, Germany) and Rodgers serve as team captains in 2026. The trio faces the challenge of imparting the team culture onto the freshman class.
“Coming into this year in an upperclassman role, I feel that elevated sense of responsibility to lead this team with the other captains,” Rodgers said. “It’s really about trying to connect with the other players in my positional unit and bridge the gap between our back line and forwards.”
After a tough start to non-conference play featuring Providence, Fairfield and Dartmouth, the River Hawks welcome Merrimack to Cushing Field on August 23. A three-match road stretch featuring Charleston, Massachusetts and Stonehill leads into the final non-conference contest at home against New Haven on September 13.
The River Hawks start America East play at preseason No. 2 Binghamton on September 20 and follow it up by taking on the other top three teams in Maine and Vermont. Following a road contest at UAlbany, UMass Lowell hosts UMBC on October 18 and New Hampshire on October 22. A road contest at NJIT leads into Senior Day on November 1 against Bryant.
.png)
