Box Score
Box Score (PDF) Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell field hockey team (4-9) fell, 2-0, against Bucknell University (8-3) of the Patriot League on Sunday afternoon in the opening contest of a four-game homestand at Wicked Blue Field in Lowell.
 
"I thought we came out and played a fantastic first half against a very tough team that's first in its conference," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "In the second half, we weren't as sound and we needed to defend for 35 minutes. Even though we would have liked to curb some of Bucknell's opportunities further up the field, our defensive effort from the back line was as solid as we could've hoped for."  
 
Freshman goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) tied a career high with 12 saves in the outing.
 
After several minutes of back and forth action, the Bison registered the first three shots of the day and a corner, but a pair of kick saves by Federico helped to keep the game scoreless. Bucknell then put two more shots on target with 19 minutes to play in the first half to no avail, as Federico batted both chances out of play.
 
Kristin Aveni (Westminster, Mass.) broke free and dribbled all the way into the circle for the River Hawks with under 16 minutes remaining in the period, earning the first corner of the day for the home squad, although UMass Lowell was unable to capitalize on the opportunity when a shot by Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) missed just wide.
 
The squads would trade possessions in the waning minutes of the half, although neither side was able to break the game open, sending the teams into the break knotted at 0-0.
 
The stalemate lasted through nine minutes of the second half before Bucknell registered its first goal of the day. The Bison's Cassie Lawrence carried the ball into the circle and fired a shot that was saved, however, Emma Fitzgerald chased down the rebound and tapped the ball into the cage, giving the visitors a 1-0 edge. Bucknell added to its lead with 19:37 to play on a direct corner scored by Liz Wills.
 
UMass Lowell threatened with back-to-back shots in a two-minute span beginning with less than nine minutes to go. Senior Chelsea Chronopoulos (Tyngsborough, Mass.) sparked the momentum shift, dribbling the ball into the offensive zone and towards the right side of the cage before taking a shot that was blocked at the post. Junior Sophie Watt (Sawtell, Australia) followed with a shot from the top of the circle on a corner play that was also blocked by a defender. The River Hawks continued to pressure in the final minutes, but Bucknell would seal the 2-0 decision.
 
Sunday's contest marked the first meeting ever between UMass Lowell and Bucknell in the sport of field hockey. The River Hawks will return to action on Friday, October 17 when the squad continues its homestand against America East Conference foe Maine at 6 p.m.