Box Score (PDF) | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell field hockey team posted three, first-half goals in a 3-2 victory against Providence College (0-2) on Sunday afternoon. With the decision, the River Hawks improved to 2-0 in 2015 and picked up their first win ever against the BIG EAST Conference foe.
 
"I think it was a tale of two halves," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "We came out in the first half and played really well, possessed the ball and finished on all of our opportunities, which we had talked about needing to do coming off of our game against Quinnipiac. In the second half, we played a little bit more defensive and a little bit more frantic, but we learned how to take control of the game and win."
 
Sophomore Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.), junior Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) and senior Kelly Freitas (Manchester, N.H.) each scored one goal apiece for the River Hawks in the win. Senior Sophie Watt (Sawtell, Australia) logged a team-high five shots to add to the attack. Sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) notched a season-best 11 saves in her complete-game performance.
 
The River Hawks threatened early, as junior Annie Villare (Chelmsford, Mass,) dribbled into the circle on a breakaway less than five minutes into the game and beat the PC goalkeeper, but her shot bounced off of the post.
 
Doiron broke the game open when she collected a rebound off of the keeper's pads and snuck an attempt into the corner, giving the River Hawks a 1-0 advantage. Cowderoy would add to the lead with just over 19 minutes remaining in the first half, dribbling around the last two PC defenders before firing on target.
 
UMass Lowell was able to make the score 3-0 on a corner with 5:37 to play in the half, as Kelly Freitas gathered the ball from in front of the opposing goalkeeper and found the back of the cage with her tip-in.
 
In the second half, the Friars tallied the first four shots on goal. With 20 minutes to go, Eleana Cardarelli received a pass in the circle and spun past Federico to put the visitors on the board.
 
Providence pressured with seven consecutive corners in the later minutes of the contest. Abby Thornton would score on the team's final attempt with assists from Emma Mackie and Emily Matthews, cutting the difference to just one at 3-2 with 3:17 left. The River Hawks' defense was able to fend off the Friars' last-minute attack, however, successfully securing the victory.
 
Sunday's contest marked the seventh meeting all-time between UMass Lowell and Providence. The Friars still own a 5-1-1 advantage in the series. The River Hawks will return to action on Friday, September 4 when they make their first road trip of the season to take on Dartmouth beginning at 3 p.m.