Sept. 10, 2011

Box Score

Photo Gallery

Sophomores Melissa Effertz (Oceanside, Ca.), Rachel McCarthy (Reading, Mass.) and Ali Ferraro (Kingston, N.Y.) each scored one goal and set up another as No. 1 UMass Lowell defeated No. 10 Bentley University, 4-1, Saturday afternoon in a conference field hockey clash at the Cushing Field Complex.

The win was the third straight for UMass Lowell, which improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in Northeast-10 play entering next Wednesday's home clash against Franklin Pierce (7:00). Bentley slipped to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in conference action, playing next at Stonehill on Saturday (12:00).

UMass Lowell overcame a sluggish start in the first half and went down a goal in the 10th minute. Junior D Kelsey Mattson fed a ball into the crease for junior F Nicole Dion, who finished into the top left corner.

UMass Lowell persisted, however, and was rewarded in the 33rd minute when, following a corner, McCarthy centered to senior D Kayla Littig (Carver, Mass.) who tipped inside the far post to bring the River Hawks level into the half.

UMass Lowell maintained the pressure and scored three goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Just over two minutes in, Ferraro sent a pass into an unmarked Efferts in front of the goal, who finished nicely.

Five minutes later, the River Hawks were rewarded a penalty stroke after a scramble in front of the Bentley cage. McCarthy calmly tucked the attempt into the top right corner of the goal.

Effertz repaid Ferraro in the 51st minute when she broke free down the left side, drew Bentley G Julia Powell forward before crossing to Ferraro who touched into an open goal.

UMass Lowell outshot the Falcons, 24-4 overall (16-1 in the second half) and 12-2 on target. Sophomore G Melanie Hopkins (Harwich, Mass.) had one save, a breakaway in the 41st minute off Dion, which she timed well to smother.

Powell stopped seven shots for Bentley.