Box Score (PDF)

ALBANY, N.Y. – Senior Sophie Watt (Sawtell, Australia) matched a career high with three points to lead the UMass Lowell (5-14, 0-8) field hockey team in a 9-3 setback in the squads' regular-season finale at America East Conference opponent No. 8 Albany (16-2, 7-1) on Sunday afternoon.
 
"We want to thank our seniors for their dedication to the program and help in leading the team during our transition into the America East Conference," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk.
 
Watt tallied one goal and one assist on the day to finish the year with a team-best seven helpers. Freshman Torrie Huk (Milford, Del.) and sophomore Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.) added one goal apiece, while sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) set a personal-best with 18 saves in the contest, as well.
 
The Great Danes' offense attacked in the opening minutes of the outing, and although Federico was able to fend off their first three attempts, Liza Morgan found the back of the cage less than three minutes into play, giving the home squad a 1-0 edge.
 
Albany quickly extended its margin to 3-0, thanks to back-to-back goals by Paula Heuser and assists from Fiori Van Rijswijk and Anna Bottino in the next 10 minutes.
 
With less than five minutes to go in the half, the River Hawks converted on a penalty corner to get on the board. Doiron inserted the ball to senior Marzana Fiedtkou (Georgetown, Guyana), who swept a pass towards the front of the cage, allowing Watt to make a deflection up over the Albany keeper and send the visitors into the break down by just two.
 
Coming out of halftime, Heuser broke away from the defense before sending the ball up to Bottino, who made a move around Federico to give the Great Danes a 4-1 edge.
 
Huk followed with a tip-in on a pass from senior Kelly Freitas (Manchester, N.H.), but Albany answered with a pair of goals once again from Heuser, making the score 6-2 at 22:47 in the second half. Doiron tallied the River Hawks final score of the match, but the Great Danes registered three more goals in the waning minutes of the outing to seal the 9-3 decision.
 
Sunday's contest marked the eighth meeting between UMass Lowell and Albany in the sport of field hockey. The Great Danes remain undefeated in the all-time series against the River Hawks.