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LOWELL, Mass. – Freshman Sophie Gehrels (Zeist, Utrecht, Netherlands) scored the game-winning goal in a sudden-victory shootout period to lead the UMass Lowell field hockey team to a thrilling, 2-1 decision against Georgetown (3-2) on Friday night at Wicked Blue Field.
 
The outcome marked the River Hawks third consecutive overtime win this season, as the squad improves to 4-1 so far.
 
Following a pair of 15-minute, 7-on-7 overtime periods, the River Hawks and Hoyas were still deadlocked at 1-1, forcing a best-of-five shootout. With the home squad trailing, 2-1, in that round, Gehrels stepped in and beat the GU keeper to send the game into a sudden-victory shootout round. After a miss by the opposition, Gehrels was called back to the line and found the back of the cage once again, this time ending the contest in favor of her squad.
 
"I thought we came out with some great energy, scoring that first goal and keeping possession, but then we let Georgetown come back in and take control," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "We fought and we clawed, and it wasn't our prettiest hockey game, but we put ourselves in a situation to at least go into overtime. Learning through adversity is going to be something that's really important to take away from tonight's game and I appreciate the fight that the team put in."
 
UMass Lowell took a slight, 26-22 edge in shots on the night, while Georgetown led in penalty corners, 7-4. Sophomore goalkeeper Eva Berkhout (Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands) matched a career-high with 11 saves in the victory.
 
The River Hawks broke open the scoring less than two minutes into play on a corner opportunity, when freshman Katie Lynes (Oakville, Ontario) sent a strong pass across the cage for the tip in by sophomore Anouk Lalande (Brussels, Belgium) on the right post.
 
The visitors erased the difference in the 48th minute on corner, as Nell van Schaack collected a loose rebound and dished a centering pass to Anna Farley for the finish.  
 
With just over four minutes remaining in regulation, the River Hawks pressured with five quick shots in a row, including two from senior Fiona Fitzgerald (Lexington, Mass.) that were just barely saved by the GU keeper, sending the game into extra time.
 
Friday's contest marked the first meeting ever between UMass Lowell and Georgetown in the sport of field hockey. The River Hawks will return to action on Sunday, September 10 when they welcome Pacific to Wicked Blue for a 12 p.m. tilt.