Box Score

Box Score (PDF)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The UMass Lowell field hockey team (2-3) conceded a pair of first half goals en route to falling, 2-1, at Bryant University (1-4) in the squad's first road game of the season on Friday evening.
 
"It's frustrating to lose our third game in a row by a goal, but we're leaving it in the hands of other people when it comes to the results of our games," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "If we take care of business a bit sooner with regards to scoring, we'll have better results. Our energy level tonight was fantastic throughout the game, though, and we're going to need to carry that into Sunday and play really hard to compete with UMass."
 
Freshman Fiona Fitzgerald (Lexington, Mass.) scored her first career goal in the final minutes of the contest, while fellow newcomer Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.), who paced the squad with three shots on the night, notched her first career point with the assist on the play. UMass Lowell took a 5-2 advantage on penalty corners in the decision.
 
After three consecutive shots by the Bulldogs in the first five minutes of play, the River Hawks gained possession and pressured in their offensive zone, logging shots on goal from sophomore Kristin Aveni (Westminster, Mass.) and senior Bianca Jones (Watertown, Mass.).
 
The home squad broke the game open with back-to-back goals in less than two minutes beginning at 19:09. Rosie Bird tipped in the first off a bouncing pass by teammate Abigail Armstrong before Victoria Danby finished a cross from Bird.
 
UMass Lowell battled to gain the momentum back and forced a pair of corners, but was unable to convert, as a backhand attempt by sophomore Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) was blocked and a hard slap by junior Sophie Watt (Sawtell, Australia) sailed just wide. Doiron then threatened on a breakaway, but her shot was kicked out of play by the opposing keeper, sending the River Hawks into the half trailing by the 2-0 margin.
 
The River Hawks were quick to attack coming out of the break, as Aveni flipped a hard shot up into the keeper's glove in the first minute. The visitors maintained possession for the majority of the second half before Doiron had her second 1-on-1 opportunity of the night, but the ball was swallowed up by the Bulldogs' charging keeper.
 
UMass Lowell got on the board with 2:57 remaining, as Doiron dished the ball towards the center of the circle for Fitzgerald, who got a stick on it for the deflection into the back of the cage. The River Hawks continued to pressure and found the back of the cage once more in the waning minutes for what would have been the tying goal, but it was waved off by the officials, sealing the 2-1 decision for the Bulldogs.  
 
Friday's contest marked the 17th meeting between UMass Lowell and Bryant in the sport of field hockey. The River Hawks still hold a slight lead in the all-time series, 10-7. The squad will return home to host the University of Massachusetts at Wicked Blue Field on Sunday, Sept. 14 beginning at 2 p.m.