LOWELL, Mass. – Freshman Valerie Crory (Littleton, Mass.) tallied her first career goal in a 3-1 setback for the UMass Lowell field hockey team (5-3, 1-2) against America East rival New Hampshire (3-7, 1-2) on Friday night.
 
"It's disappointing," said Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc. "We decided to turn on the gas in the second half, but it was too late. UNH took control in the first half and scored those two goals, and clawing back against a good team is really challenging."
 
Crory was one of three River Hawks to put a pair of shots on goal on the night. Juniors Kate Miller (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and Berbel Rozema (Rotterdam, Netherlands) each added two chances on target, as UMass Lowell outshot UNH, 16-10. Sophomore Eleonore Boekhorst (Bilthoven, Netherlands) registered three saves in the decision, as well.
 
The Wildcats converted on their first attempt of the night less than three minutes into play when Isabelle Danahy sent a long ball into the circle for Finn Caron, who despite being right on Boekhorst's pads, managed to get an off-balance shot on target to give the visitors the 1-0 edge.
 
At the 10-minute mark, the visitors extended their margin to 2-0 on a reverse-stick chip from the top of the circle by Lindsay Lee.
 
The River Hawks would threaten in the waning minutes of the first thanks to close-range chances from Miller and senior Hannah Keefe (Westford, Mass.), but the Wildcats' Jemma Woods kept the home team off the board.
 
UMass Lowell was able to cut the difference in half just after the break in the 33^rd minute, though, as Rozema sent in a long pass from just outside the circle for Crory, whose turnaround shot found the lower corner of the cage.
 
The River Hawks had an opportunity to knot the score in the 38^th minute when Crory got her stick on another ball in the circle, but Woods kept her team on top, 2-1, with the kick save.
 
The visitors then sealed the 3-1 outcome with an insurance goal in the 57^th minute from Molly McAteer on a corner.  
 
Next up, the River Hawks host Sacred Heart in a non-conference matchup on Sunday, October 3 at 1 p.m.