River Hawks Take Down UMBC, 3-2, In Conference Play Opener

Saturday, September 26

Baltimore, MD

2:00pm

University of Massachusetts Lowell

5-2-2, 1-0-0

UMBC

3-4-1, 0-1-0

Team	1	2	Final F
UMass Lowell	0	3	3
UMBC	1	1	2

Alex Champagne Header Photo for Win over UMBC

River Hawks Take Down UMBC, 3-2, In Conference Play Opener

9/26/2026 6:44:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BALTIMORE, Md. – Three different River Hawks scored a goal within three minutes to help lift the UMass Lowell men's soccer team (5-2-2, 1-0-0 AE) to a 3-2 victory over the UMBC Retrievers (3-4-1, 0-1-0 AE) in the team's America East Conference play opener on Saturday afternoon.

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 in 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.

UMBC got straight to work, scoring off a corner in the fourth minute to take an early 1-0 lead. Although the hosts continued to pressure the UMass Lowell defense, the River Hawks were up for the challenge, as Aé made a trio of saves before the 15^th minute to keep it a one-goal game. In the 16^th minute, the River Hawks got their first scoring chance when Musielak laced a shot at the top of the net, but a jumping save by the Retrievers goalie kept the German native from scoring the equalizer. UMBC added four more shots throughout the remainder of the first half, but a pair of key blocks by the visiting defense kept it a 1-0 game heading into halftime.

Coming out of the break, the Retrievers looked to extend their lead, firing off a pair of shots in the first ten minutes that were both saved by Aé. In the 58^th minute, though, the River Hawks caught fire. Moving down the left side of the pitch, Moen sent a pass in just to the top of the box for Champagne, who raced in and launched an unbelievable shot that curled past the opposing keeper into the right post, bouncing into the back of the net to equalize the game at 1-1.

With momentum on their side, the River Hawks wasted no time jumping in front, scoring the go-ahead goal just over a minute later. With the ball in the defensive zone, Kinjo sent a pass high and deep down the field to Musielak, who, with little time to prepare, split a pair of defenders with a perfect pass just to the right of the net. Rushing in, Somorrostro finished the play off with an excellent shot into the top left corner, putting his squad in front. Still red hot, the visitors scored for a third time in three minutes, this time off the foot of Godbout-Garon. After Moen found the junior deep down the field, Godbout-Garon quickly hit the breaks to create separation before turning and striking from the edge of the box, extending the lead to 3-1.

Over the final 30 minutes of action, the Retrievers looked to claw back, scoring once in the 86^th minute, but were unable to find the equalizer, sealing the 3-2 victory for UMass Lowell.

Next up, the River Hawks return home when they welcome the UAlbany Great Danes on Saturday, October 3. The match is set to start at 6 p.m. at Cushing Field.