Highlights | Photo Gallery

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell Women's Soccer showed signs of growth and development, Friday afternoon, but the result was all too familiar as the River Hawks dropped a 1-0 final to Lafayette College at the Cushing Field Complex.

"The effort was good, the intensity was good, our organization was good and our chemistry was good," said UMass Lowell Head Coach Joel Bancroft. "There are a lot of positives to take out of it, but at the end of the day you have to score more goals than your opponent and we didn't do that."

The loss dropped UMass Lowell's record to 0-5-0. Lafayette improves to 4-1-0.

The visitors, playing an intense ball possession game, took the lead in the 12th minute of play. Kate Branningan got credit for the goal when the ball, midst a scramble, was mishandled by the River Hawk goalkeeper and apparently crossed the goal line. Although play continued, officials ruled that the ball crossed the point of no return before being knocked in the opposite direction.

"Obviously it's disappointing to be on the wrong side of a 1-0 score on a questionable goal," said Bancroft. "There are a lot of winnable games but we must find consistency."

The goal was the game's only marker as the keepers at either end of the pitch turned away the few challenges they faced.

The River Hawks had a shooting edge, 11-9. Leopard keepers Danielle Sedillo and Kelly O'Brien each were credited with two saves. Freshman Julie Schneider (Bridgewater, Mass.) made three saves. Lafayette had an 8-2 edge in corner kicks.

The River Hawks now head out on the road for a meeting with Wagner College Sunday afternoon, 3 P.M., in Staten Island. It is the first of four in a row on the road. They return home on Monday, September 28, 7 P.M., to host Quinnipiac at the Cushing Field Complex.