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David Gillies

Field Hockey

Classy Freitas Fires UMass Lowell into Championship With 2-0 victory Over Merrimack

Hlebichuk celebrates career win No. 200; River Hawks face West Chester in title game repeat

Freshman Jenna Freitas (center) exalts after putting UMass Lowell 2-0 ahead.
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Freshman Jenna Freitas (Manchester, N.H.) scored one goal and assisted on another as No. 1 UMass Lowell defeated No. 2 Merrimack, 2-0, Friday afternoon in the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Tournament semifinal at Cushing Field.

With the win, UMass Lowell improved to 19-3 overall and meets No. 2 West Chester University (19-2) Sunday at 1:00 for the NCAA Championship. West Chester defeated No. 1 Shippensburg, 3-2, in the other semifinal match.

The victory was also the 200th of head coach Shannon Hlebichuk's 11-year career, improving her all-time record to 200-49.

Merrimac ends its season 17-4.

Sunday's Championship match is a repeat from last year's title game, in which the Rams prevailed over the River Hawks, 2-1.

The shutout was UMass Lowell's fifth in its last six matches and 11th of the season. Junior GK Melanie Hopkins (Harwich, Mass.) turned away four shots but was astute in coming off her line and anticipating Warrior threats.

UMass Lowell opened the scoring in the 29th minute when junior F Rachel McCarthy (Reading, Mass.) had a shot blocked from the top of the circle. Freitas took the rebound and slid across the crease to senior M Vanessa Kent (Charlton, Mass.) who stroked into an empty cage.

Merrimack had an opportunity six minutes into the second half to capitalize on a 10-on eight situation as Freitas and senior B Sarah Wilcox (Old Town, Maine) were both serving yellow card penalties. UMass Lowell's backline, however, stood firm and held the Warriors without a shot.

Merrimack had its chances, however, and nearly leveled in the 51st when junior M Jen Otis found space at the top of the circle and let fly, only for Hopkins to parry to her right and out of play.

Merrimack threatened again in the 58th minute when junior F Candace Waldie broke free to the Hopkins' right, but Hopkins read it well and snuffed the ball out of play.

The River Hawks put the match out of reach in the 60th when sophomore F Bianca Jones (Watertown, Mass.) drew Merrimack GK Kerri Bergquist to the right before flicking to Freitas, who finished nicely on the left of the cage.

UMass Lowell outshot Merrimack 12-6 overall and 5-4 on frame. Bergquist had three saves for the Warriors.
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