Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview

AMHERST, Mass. – The UMass Lowell field hockey team (4-4) fell, 2-0, against in-state foe Massachusetts (6-2) in the fifth annual Kennedy Cup game on Sunday.
 
"We played a good game of hockey," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "If you look at the stats, we outcornered them and outshot them, however, we did not outscore them and clearly, that's what wins the game. I thought we did some really nice things today, good enough to win, but I think we need to be a little bit hungrier and a little bit smarter with our chances. We're going to get back to the drawing board this week and work on some goal scoring."
 
As a team, UMass Lowell took a 7-4 advantage in penalty corners and a 9-7 edge in shots. Junior Torrie Huk (Milford, Del.) paced the River Hawks with three shots, while goalkeeper Eva Berkhout (Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands) totaled three saves.
 
The Minutewomen broke open the scoring in the eighth minute, as Anne Dijkstra crashed into the circle and dished a pass towards the right post for Sarah Hawkshaw, who was there for the tip in.
 
Massachusetts added another early goal, but the River Hawks applied pressure late in the first period with four shots on goal, including a hard slap from the top of the circle by Huk on a penalty corner. However, the visitors were unable to convert, heading into the break trailing, 2-0.
 
Coming out of halftime, UMass Lowell kept play in their offensive end with three corner chances in the first 15 minutes, although the Minutwomen's defense would hold onto the two-goal margin for the remainder of the outing.
 
Sunday's contest marked the fifth meeting between the River Hawks and the Minutewomen in the sport of field hockey. UMass Lowell returns home for two games next week beginning with a non-conference matchup against America East West Division member Stanford on Thursday, September 21 at 3 p.m.