News

By Jason Cooke | Lowell Sun Correspondent

The America East women’s soccer landscape is riddled with talent.

The competitive Division 1 conference yields flashy goal scorers and elite playmakers on a yearly basis. And it only seems as though the league is becoming more skilled.

Consider the UMass Lowell women’s soccer team unfazed. That’s because Eliana Parreira, a Chelmsford native, has evolved into one of the better lockdown defenders across the region.

UMass Lowell pitched five shutouts last season and turned in a 6-5-6 campaign. Parreira was immense in that effort, logging 1,072 minutes in 15 starts as a junior.

Just weeks away from her senior season, the local star is expected to reach another level for the River Hawks when they open their 2026 slate on the road on Aug. 12 at Providence. The team’s home opener at Cushing Field is scheduled for Aug. 16 against Fairfield at 7 p.m.

Continue reading at LowellSun.com.