Oct. 15, 2011

Box Score

Freshman F Brittany Russo (Danvers, Mass.) scored two goals in the second half to lift UMass Lowell over Saint Anselm, 2-1, Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s soccer clash at Cushing Field.

The victory was the seventh straight for the River Hawks, who improved to 9-2-2 overall and 8-1-2 in the NE-10 entering Tuesday’s pivotal home match with No. 25 Southern Connecticut.

UMass Lowell jumped to third place in the NE-10 standings with 26 points as Franklin Pierce stunned No. 25 Southern Connecticut, 3-0, and No. 18 Merrimack, which UMass Lowell defeated Wednesday (2-1), defeated No. 7 Saint Rose, 3-0.

The win also knotted a school record for consecutive victories, originally set in 2005.

Saint Anselm slipped to 2-9-2 overall and 2-7-2 in the Conference and hosts Southern New Hampshire Tuesday at 3:30.

Saint Anselm opened the scoring against the run of play in the 25th minute when senior F Teresa Vercollone centered to junior F Kaitlin Oldfield at the top of the box, who turned and lofted a shot above the reach of freshman GK Jane Hatzikonstantis (Tewksbury, Mass.).

The goal was the first of the season conceded by Hatzikonstantis, who enjoyed a run of 585 scoreless minutes to start her collegiate career.

"You've got to give credit to Saint Anselm," said head coach Elie Monteiro. "They came out with a game plan and they made it difficult for us in the attacking third."

"I thought we came back in the second half with more energy and more conviction in attacking and it got us the result we needed," Monteiro said.

Saint Anselm’s goal came immediately after UMass Lowell had three chances in quick succession. Senior B Hannah Merullo (Wakefield, Mass.) tried to tuck home a loose ball in the box, but was blocked as the rebound went to junior F Keanna Santos (Lakeville, Mass.), who was thwarted by goalkeeper Gabriella Primera.

Senior M Maddy Bissaillon (Merrimac, Mass.) took the clearance at the top right of the box and hit the right post.

Santos set up the equalizer in the 51st minute for UMass Lowell when she broke free down the right and crossed to Russo, whose first attempt at the left post was blocked. Russo took the rebound, turned and slotted home inside the right post.

Russo scored the winner in the 70th minute when junior M Jenna Costa (Attleboro, Mass.) threaded a pass through the Saint Anselm defense, enabling Russo to touch around an oncoming Primera and tuck home uncontested.

UMass Lowell outshot Saint Anselm 16-2 overall and 7-2 on frame. Hatzikonstantis stopped one shot in 66 minutes of play before being replaced by sophomore Jill Carlson (Lexington, Mass.), who went virtually untested.