Sept. 6, 2008

LOWELL, MA – Freshman F Kaitlynn McHugh (Winchester, MA) set up the first goal and scored the game-tying goal as UMass Lowell drew 2-2 with Stonehill College Saturday in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s soccer clash at Cushing Field. With the draw, the River Hawks stand at 1-1-1 overall and 0-0-1 in the NE-10 entering Tuesday night’s home match with Merrimack (7:00). Stonehill (1-1-1, 0-0-1 NE-10) hosts American International Tuesday at 4:00. McHugh sent the match into extra time in the 88th minute when junior F Kelly Soper (Auburn, MA) took a throw from senior M Natalia Mendoza (Haverhill, MA), rounded a defender and crossed to McHugh, whose header leveled at 2-2. McHugh nearly scored the winner when she possessed in the Stonehill box and eluded a defender, but her shot rolled agonizingly wide right. Against the run of the play, the Skyhawks opened the scoring in the sixth minute when sophomore M Caitlyn McEvily (New Rochelle, NY) converted a loose ball from a cross by freshman F Kelsey Mahoney (Rehoboth, MA). The River Hawks battled back and nearly leveled on a series of plays near the half-hour mark. Shortly after coming on in the 25th minute, Soper found herself on a breakaway, but her attempt was just wide right of the goal. In the 30th minute, freshman M Maddy Bissaillon (Merrimac, MA) launched an inward corner kick from the left side which Skyhawk goalkeeper tipped off the left post. The River Hawks knotted the score in the 43rd minute when Soper sent a cross from the left flank, tipped by McHugh, to the foot of freshman D Hannah Merullo (Wakefield, MA) who steered her attempt inside the far post. Stonehill went ahead 2-1 in the 59th minute when sophomore F Kirstie St. Martin (Providence, RI) turned a failed clearance into a one-on-one with junior G Jamie Gillis (North Billerica, MA), which she deflected in off the crossbar. The River Hawks outshot Stonehill 20-11 overall and 11-5 on target. Bramwell and freshman G Sarah Hickey (Lee, MA) each had four saves for the Skyhawks while Gillis halted two shots for UMass Lowell.

UMass Lowell 2, Stonehill 2 (2 OT)
At Lowell, MA

Goalkeepers
Marissa Bramwell (STO): 4 saves, 45:00; Sarah Hickey (STO), 4 saves, 45:00
Jamie Gillis (UML): 2 saves, 90:00