Box Score Box Score (PDF)PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The UMass Lowell field hockey team (5-12) fell, 6-3, at Providence College (10-8) on Sunday afternoon in the squad's final road game of the 2014 season.
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"We are not making the necessary defensive adjustments early enough and it's resulting in too many goals being scored on us," said Head Coach
Shannon Hlebichuk. "On a positive note, we didn't lose our will to continue to attack and that resulted in two unanswered goals."
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The Friars took an early 2-0 advantage on back-to-back penalty corners in the first six minutes of play. The first goal of the day was a tip in by Steph Guglielmo near the left post before Daniella Bernasconi connected with Adrienne Houle on the right side of the cage to extend the margin.
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UMass Lowell cut the difference to just one with less than 20 minutes remaining in the first half, as junior
Kelly Freitas (Manchester, N.H.) dribbled into the Providence defensive end before dishing a pass to freshman
Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.) for the shot on target. The home squad was able to respond 10 minutes later, however, thanks to a give-and-go on a breakaway put in by Bernasconi to make the score 3-1 at halftime.
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Coming out of the break
Sophie Watt (Sawtell, Australia) was assessed a yellow card, giving the Friars a five-minute player advantage during which they pulled ahead, 4-1, on Bernasconi's second goal of the outing. Just over a minute later, Providence scored once against when Caitlin Malone carried the ball into the top of the circle before firing a shot on target.
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Following a PC penalty stroke goal, the River Hawks took control of the momentum and pace of play. With just over 10 minutes left, the visitors earned their third corner of the half, allowing sophomore
Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) to fire a shot past the opposing keeper. Senior
Chelsea Chronopoulos (Tyngsborough, Mass.) then notched her first goal of the season when she collected a loose ball in front of the cage for the put-back, making it a 6-3 game. Despite the continued pressure by UMass Lowell and a pair of shots by Freitas in the waning seconds, the Friars held on to seal the decision.
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Sunday's contest marked the sixth meeting between UMass Lowell and Providence in the sport of field hockey. The Friars now own a 5-0-1 advantage in the all-time series. The River Hawks will return to action on Friday, October 31 when the squad hosts America East Conference opponent Fairfield University at 3 p.m.
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