Box Score

Sophomore F Bianca Jones (Watertown, Mass.) scored two goals in the opening 10 minutes and No. 4 UMass Lowell never looked back in a 4-1 victory at Saint Michael's Tuesday in a Northeast-10 Conference field hockey clash at Duffy Field.

The victory extended UMass Lowell's winning streak to nine games as it improved to 9-1 overall and 5-0 in the NE-10. The River Hawks visit Bentley Thursday (7:00) and host Franklin Pierce Saturday (1:00).

Saint Michael's slipped to 3-9 overall and 1-3 in the Conference.

Jones wasted little time in opening the scoring as she beat sophomore GK Sarah Healey to a loose ball at the right post and slotted home unassisted just 29 seconds into the match. She notched her second – her fifth of the season – in the 10^th minute when she took a cross from sophomore M Chelsea Chronopoulos (Tyngsborough, Mass.) through the crease and poked home.

The Purple Knights cut the deficit in half in the 16^th minute when a shot from senior B Erin Brien was blocked by freshman B Jessica Walsh (North Easton, Mass.), but senior M Laken Ferreira was there for the rebound.

Junior F Melissa Effertz (Oceanside, Calif.) quelled any optimism from the home team as she scored her seventh goal in three games in the 20^th minute. Senior M Vanessa Kent (Charlton, Mass.) dished to Effertz on the right side, who shot beneath Healey's pads and gave the River Hawks a 3-1 cushion into the break.

Junior Rachel McCarthy (Reading, Mass.) capped the scoring in the 68^th minute when she stole from a defender and beat Healey in front of the goal.

UMass Lowell outshot Saint Michael's, 19-12 overall and 13-4 on frame. Healey stopped nine shots while junior Melanie Hopkins (Harwich, Mass.) had four saves.