Oct. 31, 2010

Box Score

Junior GK Kiley Horne stopped three penalty kicks as No. 2 Merrimack College drew with No. 7 UMass Lowell, 1-1, but won the penalty shootout, 5-4, Sunday afternoon in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Quarterfinal at Warrior Field.

With the draw, UMass Lowell ends its season with an 8-8-2 overall record, which included an 8-7 clip in the NE-10. Merrimack stands at 12-4-3 overall (11-3-1 NE-10) and moves on to host No. 3 Franklin Pierce Thursday (time TBA).

In other matches, Franklin Pierce was a 3-1 winner over No. 6 Adelphi while No. 4 American International defeated No. 5 Southern New Hampshire 1-0. No. 1 Saint Rose prevailed over No. 8 New Haven, 5-0.

The match marked the second time within a year Merrimack and UMass Lowell went to penalty kicks. After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer in last year's NCAA Tournament first round, Merrimack emerged in the shootout 4-3.

"It was a good playoff atmosphere," said UML Head Coach Elie Monteiro. "For large portions of the match, I thought we were the better team. When it comes down to penalties, it's about whoever holds their nerve."

Merrimack opened the scoring in the 24th minute when freshman F Danielle Dion chased down a loose ball on the right flank, penetrated and sidestepped freshman GK Micaela Butlin (Milton, Mass.) for the goal.

"I was pleased with the way we responded when we went one down," Monteiro noted. "All season, our kids haven't known when they have been beaten. I love that about this team."

Trailing 1-0 in the second half, UMass Lowell had plenty of opportunities - evidenced by a 6-4 edge on shots in the half - and nearly drew in the 86th minute when junior M Maddy Bissaillon (Merrimac, Mass.) uncorked a 30-yard blast that was just high of the bar.

The River Hawks continued to pressure and were rewarded two minutes later through sophomore M Amy Cramer (Marlboro, Mass.). Senior D Michelle LaMar (Billerica, Mass.) hit senior F Brianne Bozzella (Wilmington, Mass.) with a cross from the left side, which Bozzella headed into the path to Cramer who clinically finished into the low left corner.

UMass Lowell outshot the Warriors 5-2 in the extra sessions but could not find the netting.

"We were getting down the field, we just couldn't find the goal to get us through," said Monteiro.

UMass Lowell went 0-2 down in the first two rounds of the shootout when Horne stopped attempts by sophomore D Taylor Hartmann (Feeding Hills, Mass.) and freshman Sarah Raye (Salem, N.H.). The River Hawks were gifted a lifeline when sophomore Casey Schulze (Chelmsford, Mass.) converted and the Warriors misfired on their next three.

Tied 4-4 entering the eighth round, Horne parried a high-and-right attempt by sophomore Julia Donigian (Wakefield, Mass.) and sophomore M Emily Para slotted into the low right corner to ensure Merrimack's bid to the semifinal.

"We put a lot of pressure on them in the second half and overtime," Monteiro said. "I think we were missing a little luck. The team did a lot of good things. But the bottom line is that they're moving on and good luck to them."

Shots favored Merrimack 14-13 overall, but UMass Lowell had a 4-3 edge on target. Butlin had two saves for the River Hawks while Horne had three saves.