Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview

DURHAM, N.H. – Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) totaled 10 saves on the day, although the UMass Lowell field hockey team (7-9, 2-4) fell, 2-1, in a hard-fought America East clash at New Hampshire (6-10, 4-3) on Sunday afternoon.
 
"It was a great field hockey game," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "I thought we both played a good 70 minutes of end-to-end, possession-style hockey. It was fun to watch, but obviously one team has to win, and unfortunately we were on the losing end today."
 
Senior Kristin Aveni (Westminster, Mass.) logged the lone goal for the River Hawks in the contest, marking her fourth of the year. Junior Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.) led the squad with three shots on the day.
 
Doiron and senior Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) each had a chance for the River Hawks in the opening minutes, but the Wildcats got on the board first when Ashley Mendonca sent a long hit into the circle for Gianna Bensaia, who redirected it on target.
 
The teams traded possessions for the majority of the period with high intensity showing on both sides. The River Hawk defense kept it just a one-goal game thanks to a great defensive save by sophomore Allyssa Moser (Mertztown, Pa.) and four consecutive saves in less than a minute from Federico, as New Hampshire led just 1-0 at the break.
 
In the early minutes of the second half, freshman Anouk Lalande (Brussels. Belgium) sent a ball into the circle where her squad had a 2-on-1 situation. After bouncing off a pair of sticks, Aveni was able to lift an off-balanced shot up under the crossbar and knot the game at 1-1.
 
Both UNH and UMass Lowell continued to battle, looking to break the stalemate, until Aggie Sutherland tucked a ball into the lower left on a corner in the 58th minute to put the Wildcats back on top, 2-1. The River Hawks could not erase the difference in the final minutes, sealing the decision for the home team.
 
Sunday's contest marked the sixth meeting between UMass Lowell and New Hampshire in the sport of field hockey. The Wildcats now lead the all-time series, 5-1. The River Hawks will play their final home game in 2016 on Friday, October 28 when Vermont comes to Lowell for a 6 p.m. tilt.