Sept. 21, 2010 Box Score

Sophomore striker Keanna Santos (Lakeville, Mass.) capitalized on a defensive error and scored the lone goal to lead UMass Lowell over American International College, 1-0, Tuesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women's soccer clash.

 

The victory halted a three-match slide for the River Hawks, who improved to 2-4-1 overall and 2-3-0 in the NE-10 entering Saturday's home match against Southern New Hampshire (1:00).

The loss was the second straight for AIC, which slipped to 5-2-0 overall and 3-2-0 in the Conference.

"AIC is a much improved side," said UML Head Coach Elie Monteiro. "They put us under pressure with their forward line but I thought our back four handled it well. It was a complete team effort."

Santos scored the winner in the 15th minute when a cross from the left flank from senior M Ella Merullo (Wakefield, Mass.) got through the grasp of freshman GK Sam Weber. Santos was there for the touch into an empty net.

"That was goalscorer's instinct from Keanna," Monteiro said.

The shutout was the third of the season for freshman GK Micaela Butlin (Milton, Mass.), who stopped two shots, both in succession on freshman F Bailey Robinson in the 58th minute.

Butlin thwarted Robinson's first attempt after she was released with a through-ball. Robinson corralled the rebound only to have Butlin deflected the shot high toward the goal, but freshman D Sarah Raye (Salem, N.H.) was there to head it off the line.

"Micaela read the situations very well tonight," Monteiro noted.

With 10 minutes left, UMass Lowell nearly doubled its lead when Merullo crossed to sophomore M Gia O'Connor (Dracut, Mass.) on the right side, but O'Connor's volley was just wide right.

AIC outshot the River Hawks 8-4 overall, but UMass Lowell had a 4-3 edge on target. Weber stopped three shots for AIC.