LOWELL, Mass. – After knotting things up with just seconds to play in regulation, the UMass Lowell women's soccer team (1-4-2) dropped a 4-3 heartbreaker in double overtime to Quinnipiac (2-4-0) on Thursday evening at Cushing Field.
 
"I think we had an unfortunate start because we conceded the first goal again," said interim head coach Mira Novak. "But I can't blame anybody today for a lack of effort…I think we did a really good job of coming back, fighting, and managing the game."
 
After a physical first half, the Bobcats went into halftime with a slight 1-0 advantage when Quinnipiac's Lauren Triglione put the Bobcats up in the 18^th minute with an unassisted goal. She drove up the right side of the field and took a shot from 18 yards out, which went off a UMass Lowell defender and into the River Hawks' net.
 
The second half featured more action as Rachel Morrier (Plaistow, N.H.) equaled things up in the 46^th minute off a cross from Lily Fabian (Monson, Mass.).
 
Quinnipiac responded with a goal in the 54^th minute after Hannah Reiter scored from six yards out off a ball from across the middle.
 
Seven minutes later, Emily Nelson (Peabody, Mass.) scored her third goal of the season, with a tip-in directly in front of the net after a rebound off a shot by Fabian.
 
In the 70^th minute, the Bobcats went back up, thanks to a goal by Kelsey Goldring. She received a long pass from midfield and sent the ball into the left side of the net to put Quinnipiac up 3-2.
 
UMass Lowell had a number of shot opportunities in the remaining time, but it wasn't until less than a minute left in the game that they were able to capitalize. Veronica Morrier (Plaistow, N.H.) got ahead for a shot, which was saved by Olivia Myszewski, then picked up by Kristin Birgisdottir (Mosfellsbaer, Iceland) for a rocket from just inside the box. Quinnipiac's Mackenzie Tibball stopped the shot with her hand, picking up a red card and affording the River Hawks a penalty kick. Rachel Morrier sent it to the lower left depths of the net, and the game went to overtime for the third time this season.
 
After a scoreless first overtime, Kylie Lance led Quinnipiac's late-game heroics with a shot through Julia Schneider's legs in the 105^th minute. Selena Salas passed Lance the ball from the left side of the box, and Lance was able to put it away in double overtime.
 
The game marked the River Hawks' third overtime match this season, all three of which have come at home.
 
Rachel Morrier's pair of goals brought her to 47 career points, and she is now second all-time in River Hawk scoring. She led the team in shots with seven, while Fabian had six and Veronica Morrier tallied four.
 
"For us, Rachel is a pro," Novak said. "I think she sets the example for the other players in the way that she prepares for the games, she treats herself, and she performs."
 
The River Hawks have one day off before taking on Bryant in another match at Cushing Field this Sunday at 4 p.m.