Oct. 12, 2011

Box Score

After a scoreless first half, fourth-ranked UMass Lowell field hockey erupted for four goals in the final 31 minutes in a shutout victory over Adelphi on Wednesday night at Cushing Field.

The well deserved win improved the River Hawks to 13-2 overall and a perfect 8-0 in Northeast-10 play. The spirited second half broke UMass Lowell out of a funk in which it score just twice in the last five halves of action--a slow pace for the NE-10's top office that averages 4.7 goals per game. The Panthers continued to slide, suffering their fourth straight loss as they fell to 5-10 overall and 2-5 in conference play.

"We played an inspired second half, which ended up being the difference in the game," said head coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "Kayla Littig, in the midfield and defensively, was instrumental in securing this win."

As the clock wound down in a back-and-forth first half, UMass Lowell nearly broke the stalemate in the 24th minute as the reigning NE-10 Defensive Player of the Week Kayla Littig (Carver, Mass.) stripped Adelphi just outside the circle. Littig then took two steps inside the top of the zone and snapped off a shot that sent the ball through the defense, past the goalkeeper and off of the left post.

At the half, the scoreboard remained clean as the teams raced up-and-down the field without sustained offensive pressure. The River Hawks held a slight advantage in shots, 7-4, and earned six corners, while Adelphi drew four.

Despite not scoring in the first half, UMass Lowell found the net in the early part of the second. Littig carried through midfield and laced a long-distance pass behind the defense and into the circle for Abby Auld (Waltham, Mass.) to finish off at 39:24.

Once the drought ended, the River Hawks began to swarm the net, scoring two goals one minute apart beginning at 51:30.

Sophomore Rachel McCarthy (Reading, Mass.) converted the first, smacking home a pass from Ali Ferraro (Kingston, N.Y) from close range. The tally was McCarthy's league-best 18th of the season.

Then, 60 seconds later, Ferraro grabbed a blocked chip attempt and ripped a shot into the mesh for her 15th goal of the year.

As the time peeled off the scoreboard, UMass Lowell drew a penalty stroke in the 68th minute. Cori Trask (East Bridgewater, Mass.) went high, putting the ball off of the outstretched waffle pad of Lucia Vigliotti (Westbury, N.Y.), settling the score at 4-0 at 68:01.

For the night, the River Hawks carried a large edge in shots, 23-6, and out-cornered the Panthers 9-5. Vigliotti managed 10 saves despite falling to 5-8 on the year. UMass Lowell's Melanie Hopkins (Harwich, Mass.) stopped two shots for her fifth shutout of the season, improving to 13-2 overall. Hopkins lowered her goals against average to a miniscule 1.14.

The River Hawks have the rest of the week off as they prepare for a showdown with rival Merrimack next Tuesday in North Andover at 7 p.m.