Box Score (PDF)

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell field hockey team (7-9) dropped a 2-1 decision against Massachusetts (9-8) in the 2019 Kennedy Cup Challenge game on Tuesday evening at Wicked Blue Field.
 
"We lack goal scoring," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "That's what the name of the game is. We are at a loss on what changes we have to make to score goals. It has to come from them on the field in the game and we have one more chance to do that."
 
Sophomore Jenna Berger (Waterloo, Ontario) notched the lone goal for the River Hawks in the squad's final home game of the season. Senior goalkeeper Eva Berkhout (Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands) finished with three saves.
 
The game was a defensive battle from the start, with both sides putting just one shot on target in the first quarter.
 
The River Hawks broke open the scoreless stalemate in the 22nd minute when Berger set up inside the circle and finished a one-timer off long pass in from freshman Sofie Knook (Amsterdam, Netherlands). The Minutewomen had the last chance on cage in the quarter, but the home team would take the 1-0 advantage into the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, UMass Amherst was quick to knot the score at 1-1 in the 34th minute, as Lucy Cooper converted on a corner opportunity. The deciding goal then came in the 50th minute off the stick of Bella Ianni, who put a rebound past Berkhout.
 
UMass Lowell turned up the pressure with the final five shots of the outing, but the Minutewomen would hold on for the 2-1 decision.
 
The River Hawks will close out the regular season on Sunday, November 3 at 1 p.m. when they visit UAlbany to battle for a spot in the 2019 America East Championship.