Lowell, Mass. – The host River Hawks scored late in the first half and the one score held up, as UMass Lowell defeated UMBC, 1-0, in the America East opener for both squads.

UML improved to 5-2-1, 1-0-0, while the Retrievers slipped to 3-5-0, 0-1-0.

River Hawk graduate student Stanley Alves's hooking right-footed shot from 25 yards out and the center of the field hooked away from Retriever netminder Quantrell Jones (Baltimore, Md./Kenwood). Jones got a piece of the heavy shot, but could not prevent it from hitting the corner of the goal with 2:04 remaining in the first half.

After being outshot, 9-3, in the first 45 minutes, the Retrievers controlled play and created several opportunities in the second half, but could not break through. In the 76th minute, UMBC took a corner and the ball found the back of the net, but the Retrievers were whistled for a foul, nullifying the apparent game-tying goal.

Shots were even in the second half at 6-each. Both Jones and UML netminder Patrik Gujic were credited with one save apiece.

Sophomore midfielder Alejandro Arbelaez (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) was the lone Retriever to record multiple shots in the game with a pair.

Senior defender Trey Vinson (Heath, Texas) prevented a goal in the fifth minute. UML chipped a ball over the head of a charging Jones, but Vinson raced back to clear the ball off the line. 

UMBC's four-game road swing concludes next Saturday when the Retrievers head back up north to face Hartford on Saturday evening, Oct. 5.