Box Score (PDF)

LOWELL, Mass. – After a stalemate of more than 40 minutes, Vermont (6-8, 3-2 AE) scored the golden goal, as the UMass Lowell field hockey team (7-7, 1-5 AE) dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker in double overtime on Sunday afternoon.
 
"We are obviously disappointed with the result today," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "We played a top-level field hockey game, as did UVM. We didn't finish on a couple chances that we had towards the end of the game, and again, when you play a good team, if you don't finish on the set pieces , it's going to come back to haunt you."
 
The deciding goal game just 38 seconds into the second overtime period, as Jackie Gillen received a long pass from Clodagh Ferry, beat the final River Hawk defender and fired a slap on cage to lift her team to victory.
 
The defense controlled the majority of the first half with both sides combining for just three shots through the first 20 minutes of action. The River Hawks threatened in the 26th minute with a hard ball from the 25-yard line by freshman Lara Ansaldi (Rosario, Sante Fe, Argentina) that was deflected in the circle by classmate Jenna Berger (Waterloo, Ontario), but it sailed just wide to keep the game scoreless.
 
The home team did break open the scoring in the 29th minute on its first corner of the day when Berger inserted the ball to the wing for sophomore Katie Lynes (Oakville, Ontario), who sent a rocket towards the back of the cage to put her squad on top heading into the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, Vermont turned the pressure up right away, knotting the score at 1-1 in the 41st minute on a direct corner by Lauren Tucker. Junior Anouk Lalande (Brussels, Belgium) had a breakaway opportunity later in the period, looking to regain the upper hand before the ball trickled out of her control and out of bounds.
 
Senior Torrie Huk (Milford, Del.) had two solid chances in the first overtime, including one in the final seconds, although a great save by the UVM keeper sent the game into double overtime.
 
Vermont now leads the all-time series against UMass Lowell, 13-6-1. Next up, the River Hawks will travel to New Hampshire for a 3 p.m. conference matchup on Friday, October 19.