Box Score

Junior F Rachel McCarthy (Reading, Mass.) scored in the 53^rd minute to lift No. 3 UMass Lowell over No. 2 Bentley, 1-0, Saturday afternoon in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament semifinal at Merrimack College's Warrior Field.

With the win, UMass Lowell (17-3) advances to the NE-10 Championship match – for the ninth time in 10 years – Sunday at 12:00 against No. 1 seed/host Merrimack, which dispatched Adelphi 6-0 in Saturday's later semifinal.

Bentley, which had won seven straight matches entering the semifinal, slipped to 11-7 overall.

McCarthy scored the game-winner when she possessed with her back to the goal, spun to her left and shot through the defense into the left side of the cage. The goal was McCarthy's 25^th of the season.

McCarthy nearly opened the scoring two minutes earlier when she let loose only to be denied by the post.

UMass Lowell outshot Bentley 24-5 overall (8-3 on target), built a 15-3 edge on penalty corners and enjoyed the run of play for significant stretches. The Falcons, however, did have chances.

In the 62^nd minute, sophomore F Gina Larange broke through UMass Lowell's backline, but junior GK Melanie Hopkins (Harwich, Mass.) read the play well and came off her line to snuff the attempt before Larange could muster an attempt.

Hopkins also did well in the final seconds to deny an attempt by Bentley freshman F Sally James.

Hopkins stopped three shots and earned her eighth shutout of the season while senior GK Julia Powell had seven saves.

UMass Lowell has won seven NE-10 Tournament titles, including 2003-07, 2010 and 2011, the latter at Merrimack (3-2).

The 2012 NCAA Tournament Selection Show will air Monday at 2:00 on www.ncaa.com.