Box Score (PDF) | Bancroft Interview
DURHAM, N.H. – The UMass Lowell women's soccer team (3-10-0, 0-3-0) was defeated, 4-2, at America East Conference opponent New Hampshire (6-5-3, 4-0-0) on Thursday night.
"I thought the first half was two teams feeling each other out, and at 2-2 we feel good," said Head Coach
Joel Bancroft. "We gave up a goal being aggressive. If we are going to make mistakes, make them on the aggressive side, but our kids fought and clawed their way back in."
New Hampshire took an early, 1-0 advantage, converting on a penalty kick, in the 10th minute, by Brooke Murphy, after being fouled.
UMass Lowell did not trail for long thanks to
Shannon Groffie (Toms River, N.J.), who scored the equalizer, 1-1, for the River Hawks in the 18th minute off a cross from
Katelyn Vieira (Warwick, R.I.). The play started on a corner kick from
Alex Guzman (Las Vegas, Nev.), sending it into the box where Vieira connected with her teammate, giving Groffie her third tally of the year.
The home team retaliated nearly two minutes later, when Kelsey Pratt got one past
Julia Schneider (Bridgewater, Mass.), helping her squad regain the 2-1 lead.
UMass Lowell continued to battle and got them selves back in the game in the 39th minute. Vieira helped put one on the board after stealing the ball from a New Hampshire defender and burying a shot in the top right corner tying the score, 2-2.
The second half was all New Hampshire as Murphy and Pratt each tallied one more goal on the night. Murphy's goal was the game winner in the 65th minute as Pratt added an insurance goal for her team 82nd minute.
Thursday's contest marked the third meeting between UMass Lowell and New Hampshire. The Wildcats now lead the all-time series, 3-0. The River Hawks are back in action on Sunday, Oct. 11 at Cushing Field as they take on Binghamton for a 4 p.m. tilt.
