Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.H. – Junior Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) tallied the lone goal for the UMass Lowell field hockey team (5-3, 0-1) in a 2-1 loss at America East Conference opponent New Hampshire (4-5) on Saturday.
 
"We were essentially our own worst enemy," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "I think we lost this game in the first five minutes because we were somewhat disorganized and not marked tightly in the circle, and that resulted in two goals. In the 65 minutes we had left, I think we outplayed them, competed hard and put a ball in the net to get back into it, but we just didn't have enough time."
 
The Wildcats jumped in front early with two unassisted goals in the first six minutes of play. Gianna Bensaia collected a rebound near the front of the cage and sent a follow-up shot past sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) to break the game open. Teammate Lindsey Nerbonne then extended the lead less than two minutes later, dribbling into the circle alone for a 1-on-1 chance against Federico before finding the far corner of the cage on her second attempt.
 
UMass Lowell forced their first corner just under 15 minutes into the contest. On that play, senior Jessica Walsh's (North Easton, Mass.) initial shot was tipped by freshman Torrie Huk (Milford, Del.), but the deflection was too high. Cowderoy drew another corner for the River Hawks with 12:55 to remaining in the first, although her shot from the top of the circle skidded left of the goal, sending the visitors into halftime trailing by two.
 
Coming out of the break, the River Hawks took control of the momentum and earned four consecutive corner chances. After three close calls, UMass Lowell broke through on the fourth attempt, as senior Sophie Watt (Sawtell, Australia) gathered a loose ball and dished it back to Cowderoy for the hard shot on goal, cutting the difference to just one at 2-1 with 26:16 still to go in the outing.
 
The teams traded possessions and chances throughout the remaining minutes of the contest, but the Wildcats would hold onto the advantage to seal the decision.
 
Cowderoy finished with a team-high four shots on goal, while Huk added two. Federico totaled eight saves on the day.
 
Saturday's contest marked the third meeting between UMass Lowell and New Hampshire, as the Wildcats are undefeated in the all-time series. The River Hawks will play again tomorrow, Sunday, September 27, when they welcome Harvard to Wicked Blue Field for their Cystic Fibrosis Awareness/Team IMPACT Day game at 3 p.m.