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LOWELL, Mass. –  Freshman Emily Duchesne (Hooksett, N.H.) scored on a header with less than three minutes remaining in regulation as UMass Lowell battled from behind to earn a 2-2 tie against the University of Albany in an America East Conference match Thursday night at the Cushing Field Complex.

"To get the equalizer with two and a half minutes to left is a huge deal for us," said UMass Lowell Head Coach Joel Bancroft.  "They just kept fighting; the credit goes to (the players.)"

The hard earned tie was the River Hawks first of the year and adjusts their record to 4-8-1 overall and 1-2-1 in America East play.  Albany is 5-7-3 / 2-1-1.

"It was a tough battle, the whole game was back and forth," said Duchesne.  "I couldn't be more proud, we're always stay positive and fight to the end, and that's what we did tonight."

Duchesne equalizing marker came off a set play, a corner kick, UMass Lowell's first of the game.  Freshman Shannon Groffie (Toms River, N.J.) took the corner and arched the ball toward the crowded goalmouth and the waiting Duchesne.

"My job is to get my head on the ball," said Duchesne. "That's what I had to do so I did it.  Once you get up and put your head on the ball, you can kind of control it."

Sounds simple, but there is a lot more to it.

"Our forwards got a good push, really compressed their back line," said Bancroft.  "That created a pocket where (Duchesne) could rise up and when she did, she got all of the ball."

The goal was the first of Duchesne's collegiate career.

"It felt good to be on the home field, in front of our crowd under the lights," said Duchesne.  "For my first collegiate goal, it couldn't have felt better."

It was the night's final goal in what had been a tooth and nail struggle in which the home team had never led.

Albany broke the ice in the 19th minute of play. Junior Krista Fitzpatrick took a pass at the open left corner of the net and didn't miss.  Sophomore Alexa Schneider, who made the crossing pass from the right wing, was credited with the assist.

The River Hawks leveled the score nearly five minutes later.  Groffie drilled the ball high into the left corner of the net from 20 yards out.  It was Groffie's first collegiate goal.  Senior Emily Bracken (Bridgewater, Mass.) picked up the assist.

Albany moved back in front in the 65th minute and again it was Fitzpatrick who did the damage with a right foot drive from just inside the box.

The two teams battled through an uneventful 20 minutes of overtime.

Albany had a slight shooting edge, 14-12.  On target shots were even at five a side.  The visitors did have a 7-2 edge in corner kicks.

UMass Lowell returns to battle and the road on Sunday, October 12 at 1:00 P.M., in Burlington, Vt. when they visit the University of Vermont. After a game at UMBC, Thursday, the River Hawks will return home October 19 to host the University of Maine.