Box Score Box Score (PDF) | Medeiros Interview
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Despite a strong second half comeback bid, the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team fell short in the bid for its first win, falling to Sacred Heart 7-6.
"It stings. Definitely a game that we were in, we were plagued by turnovers and I think that's the overall comment for the game," said Head Coach Carissa Mederios. "We just had a lot of unforced errors and I don't think we took advantage of when they were making their mistakes. This is tough, everyday we're getting better and better in certain ways and certainly our margin of loss was much improved and one of our goals was to hold them to single digits."
The Pioneers (2-2) used a quick strike 1:35 into the game to take the lead, but the River Hawks (0-4) countered with
Emily Wright's (Avon, Conn.) third goal of the season. The midfielder made separation with a few moves and sent a one-hopper into the net with 26:22 on the clock.
Sacred Heart responded with Jenna Liljeberg's second goal of the game 32 seconds later. Consecutive UMass Lowell goals, by
Micaela Sanborn (Chelmsford, Mass.) and
Jesse Jay (Amherst, N.H.), gave the guests a 3-2 lead with 16:37 remaining in the half.
Sanborn collected a pass from
Taylor Sokol (Hopkinton, Mass.) sent a high shot from just outside the crease that snuck right underneath the crossbar at the 22:41 mark. Jay's goal came with 16:37 on the clock, as she connected from inside the 8-meter arc.
The Pioneers scored three goals to regain momentum and took a 5-3 lead into halftime. Kylie Calandra scored twice and Brianna Schussler added one, as well.
Wright scored her second goal of the game to cut the deficit to 5-4 to open up the second half scoring 4:33 into play. Sokol scored her team-high fifth goal with 19:05 to tie up the score at 5-5, on a low rocket from just inside the arc.
Caitlin Delaney ended the bleeding for the Pioneers with 8:45 on the clock, and Calandra added her third goal of the game as the eventual game-winner with 5:13 remaining.
Devon McKercher (Vestal, N.Y.) answered 61 seconds later to get within 7-6, but UMass Lowell could not find the tying goal in the final minutes of the game.
Courtney Barrett (South Burlington, Vt.) made five saves on 23 shots, and Kelly Keenan played 39:29 in relief for the hosts and made her team's four saves.
The River Hawks are back home to host Manhattan on March 8 at 1 p.m.
