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Field Hockey
Melanie Hopkins
Vaughn Winchell

Field Hockey

Hopkins Pitches 25th Career Shutout, Field Hockey Defeats Adelphi 3-0

Goalkeeper Melanie Hopkins makes four saves for her 25th career shutout on Saturday

Goalkeeper Melanie Hopkins is now one shy of Patrice Mendoza's program record of 26 career shutouts.
Box Score

Junior goalkeeper Melanie Hopkins (Harwich, Mass.) made four saves in the 3-0 UMass Lowell field hockey victory over Adelphi on Saturday afternoon in Lowell, MA. The shutout was the 25th of Hopkins' career—one shy of tying the program record held by former standout Patrice Mendoza (2000-03).

"It was a well played game by Adelphi, who has always been a tough opponent," said head coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "I thought our performance was slightly lackluster and we need to finish more opportunities, but a couple younger players stepped in due to injury and it was nice to see them gain confidence."

The River Hawks (5-1) have now won four in a row and held opponents scoreless in the last 280 minutes of play. Up next, UMass Lowell travels to Stonehill College on Tuesday for a 6 PM showdown with the Skyhawks. Adelphi (0-6) travels to American International on Tuesday for a 4 PM contest with the Yellow Jackets.

The match stayed scoreless for the opening 20 minutes before the River Hawks poked the first one through. Moments after a corner delivered by senior Vanessa Kent (Charlton, Mass.), classmate Sarah Wilcox (Old Town, Maine) had a shot saved, but collected her own rebound and found Kent for the finish at 22:52. The goal was Kent's first of the season.

UMass Lowell found the back of the net again in the 30th minute off of another corner. Kent delivered the ball to junior Rachel McCarthy (Reading, Mass.) at the top of the circle. McCarthy then sent a pass to Wilcox, who passed right back for a one-timer by McCarthy for the score. The goal was her ninth of the season.

Capitalizing on yet another corner, the River Hawks were able to put the game out of reach in the 62nd minute. Kent sent the ball in to McCarthy, who lofted a shot over the goalkeeper's head for her 10th tally of the year.

Defensively, UMass Lowell was suffocating, surrendering just four shots and six penalty corners. The River Hawks outshot Adelphi 35-4 and carried a 19-6 advantage on corners.

Hopkins was a rock in net once again, saving all four shots she faced for her second shutout of the year and 25th of her career. She now has a league-leading .905 save percentage and 0.35 goals against average.

The Panthers' Kristine Puzio (Holbrook, N.Y.) made 18 saves and allowed three goals on the afternoon.
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