Box Score

Senior F Keanna Santos (Lakeville, Mass.) returned from a two-match absence to score in the 31^st minute as UMass Lowell defeated Saint Anselm College, 1-0, Tuesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women's soccer match at Grappone Stadium.

The win snapped a three-match slide for the River Hawks, who improved to 2-3-1 overall and 1-3-0 in the NE-10 entering Saturday's home match against Assumption (1:00).

Saint Anselm remained winless in its last four matches, slipping to 1-4-1 overall and 0-3-1 in the NE-10.

Sophomore GK Jane Hatzikonstantis (Tewksbury, Mass.) stopped seven shots to earn her first clean sheet of the season.

“We did a better job of getting wide and getting crosses into the box,” said head coach Elie Monteiro. “We had been settling for shots from long range in the previous three games. We possessed the ball very well.

“Jane played well in the goal and kept us in it with a big save,” Monteiro added. “She was aggressive off her line. She cut off a number of crosses and held on to them in slick conditions.”

Back from a minor injury, Santos scored the winner off a nice build-up along with senior M Jenna Costa (Attleboro, Mass.) and sophomore F Brittany Russo (Danvers, Mass.). Costa played the ball to Russo, who spotted Santos on the left side. Santos took an additional touch and finished nicely inside the far post from the left side.

“Things flow a little better with Kea,” Monteiro said. “We're more dangerous going forward. Along with Brittany, we've got two threats who can stretch the field for us. The goal was a nice combination between Jenna, Brittany and Kea.

“Saint Anselm was tough, he added. “They were physical and organized. It was a good win on the road.”

Shots favored Saint Anselm 11-0 overall and 7-6 on target. Sophomore GK Gabrielle Primera had five saves for the Hawks.