Box Score OXFORD, Ohio – For the second game in a row, junior Torrie Huk (Milford, Del.) and the UMass Lowell field hockey team (3-1) fought to a 2-1, overtime victory, this time defeating Ball State in a neutral-site contest on Sunday.
 
"We had to dig deep to earn this win," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "Ball State was relentless on defense and frustrated our attacking unit. I am proud of how we stayed composed, and earned a corner at a crucial time in the game and converted to tie the score. As a team and staff, we were all confident that we had the personnel to finish the game early in the overtime. The team set that expectation for themselves and they achieved it. This was a big character-building weekend for us and we are going to build off of it as we go forward into the season."
 
Huk, who recorded both tallies in the outing, put the game-winner on target just over a minute into the extra period, as freshman Clara Defourt (Brussels, Belgium) sent a well-placed pass from the right side across the turf towards the left post for the tip in.
 
The teams traded possessions in the first half with the River Hawks taking a 6-3 edge in shots and a 4-2 advantage in corner chances, although the score would remain knotted, 0-0, at the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, the Cardinals who were able to get on the board first thanks to a close-range shot by Michelle Shampton in the 43rd minute.
 
The River Hawks then put the pressure on with four quick shots, looking to even the score once more. Back-to-back attempts from Huk and sophomore Anouk Lalande (Brussels, Belgium) were both on target during that stretch, but Ball State goalkeeper Grace Chavez would make the stops. UMass Lowell did erase the difference, however, in the 58th minute on a direct corner, as Huk fired on cage from the top of the circle with assists by sophomore Morgan Irons (Brodentown, N.J.) and senior Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.).
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Eva Berkhout, who finished the day with three saves, made a crucial stop late in regulation to maintain the stalemate and force extra time.
 
Sunday's contest marked the first meeting ever between UMass Lowell and Ball State in the sport of field hockey. The River Hawks will now return to Wicked Blue Field for a three-game homestand beginning on Friday, September 8 when they host Georgetown in a 7 p.m. tilt.