ALBANY, NEW YORK — #6 UMass Lowell and #3 UAlbany battled to a 3-3 draw Saturday in the 2025 American East Championship match, with the contest extending through two overtime periods before ending in a penalty shootout. The River Hawks and Great Danes traded goals throughout the match before 212 spectators at Casey Stadium.
UMass Lowell struck first when Oscar Perez scored in the 13th minute to give the visitors an early advantage. Alex Champagne doubled the lead in the 31st minute with an assist from Linus Musielak and Shunnosuke Nakajima, positioning the sixth-seeded River Hawks to control the championship match. However, Alexander Clive Vokes answered for UAlbany in the 37th minute, cutting the deficit in half before halftime.
The second half saw UAlbany mount a comeback. Ivar Orri Gissurarson equalized in the 61st minute with an assist from Roko Branko Mrvelj, then added another goal in the 67th minute to give the third-seeded Great Danes their first lead. The momentum appeared to shift decisively toward the home team as UMass Lowell struggled to generate consistent offensive chances.
Jorge Ortega restored parity for UMass Lowell in the 89th minute, forcing the match into overtime tied at 3-3. Both teams had opportunities during the two extra periods but neither could break through, with UAlbany dominating possession and shot attempts throughout the extended play. The Great Danes finished with 11 shots on goal compared to UMass Lowell's four, yet the River Hawks' goalkeeper made eight saves to keep the match level.
UAlbany controlled the tempo in overtime, particularly in the second extra period when Roko Branko Mrvelj struck the woodwork on a close-range attempt. Despite sustained pressure, the Great Danes could not find the decisive goal. UMass Lowell's defense, bolstered by multiple substitutions late in regulation and throughout overtime, held firm when it mattered most.
The match proceeded to a penalty shootout after 110 minutes of play. Both teams converted their first five attempts before the sequence extended to sudden-death rounds.