Box Score

Merrimack College scored goals 13 minutes apart in the first half and held firm in a 2-0 victory over UMass Lowell Wednesday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference women's soccer match at Martone-Mejail Field.

With the loss, UMass Lowell slipped to 3-4-1 overall and 2-4-0 in the NE-10 entering Saturday's clash at Le Moyne (12:00). The win was the third straight and fifth in six matches for Merrimack, which improved to 7-2-0 overall and 5-1-0 in the Conference.

Junior F Jenna Zechner opened the scoring in the 11^th minute when she took a throw-in at the top of the box from junior M Jackie Sullivan and converted out of a scramble.

Junior F Danielle Dion doubled the Warrior lead in the 24^th minute with her 10^th goal of the year. Zechner's cross from the right side took a deflection and hit off the post to Dion, who slotted home uncontested.

UMass Lowell was without Brittany Russo (Danvers, Mass.) for the match and also lost sophomore GK Jane Hatzikonstantis (Tewksbury, Mass.) and senior M Jenna Costa (Attleboro, Mass.) to first half injuries.

“In the second half we played better, a little bit tougher, but just didn't have enough without Russo and Costa, the finisher and the creator,” said head coach Elie Monteiro. “A couple of mistakes cost us today, but we hung in there in the second half. Merrimack's physical presence that they bring was a little too much for us.”

Merrimack outshot the River Hawks, 17-12, but shots on target were even at six apiece. Hatzikonstantis had one save while junior Jill Carlson (Lexington, Mass.), who replaced Hatzikonstantis in the 30^th minute, stopped three shots.

“We need three points from Saturday, and to find another 10-12 somewhere else,” Monteiro added.