Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.) and sophomore Torrie Huk (Milford, Del.) each tallied one goal, as the UMass Lowell field hockey team (3-6, 0-1) dropped a 4-2 decision against Maine (8-3, 1-0) to open America East Conference play on Friday night.
 
"We competed hard for 70 minutes, which was the ultimate team goal for us," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "Obviously, you always want to win, but our level of energy was exactly where we wanted it to be. We kept ourselves in the game and battled back when we needed to, but we just didn't take care of our corner opportunities at the end of the game and that was the difference maker."
 
Huk has now logged points in each of the team's last five games. Senior Eleonore Agneessens (Brussles, Belgium) and Anouk Lalande (Brussels, Belgium) tallied one assist apiece in the outing, while junior Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) and freshman Eva Berkhout (Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands) recorded five and six saves, respectively.
 
Both teams were aggressive on offense right from the start, combining for four goals in the first 10 minutes of play on the dreary Friday evening. Maine's Madison Cummings got the scoring started just over three minutes into the contest when she deflected a pass from teammate Sydney Veljacic. The River Hawks responded two minutes later, though, as Lalande sent a pass across the front of the cage, allowing Doiron to get a stick on it and knot the game at 1-1.
 
UMass Lowell and Maine each scored in the 10th minute, with Huk finding the back of the cage for the River Hawks on a breakaway off of a long pass by Agneessens, forcing another stalemate, this time at 2-2. However, the Black Bears continued the offensive flurry into 16th minute when Danielle Aviani won a scrum in front of the cage to put the visitors on top, 3-2, at the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, Maine tested Berkhout with three quick shots, but the rookie was able to make the stops. Doiron then had a good chance on a corner at the opposite end of the field, although her attempt sailed just wide.
 
The Black Bears would extend their margin to 4-2 on a penalty stroke by Veljacic in the 49th minute. The home squad took control of the momentum in the waning minutes of the contest, including four consecutive corners, but was unable to close the gap.
 
Friday's contest marked the 10th meeting between UMass Lowell and Maine in the sport of field hockey. The Black Bears now own an 8-1-1 lead in the all-time series. The River Hawks return to action on Sunday, October 2 when they visit Sacred Heart for a 12 p.m. tilt.