LOWELL, Mass. – With all the momentum heading into 7v7 play, senior Jenna Berger (Waterloo, Ontario) tapped in the game-winner in the 63^rd minute to lift the UMass Lowell field hockey team (8-5) to a 2-1 overtime victory against LIU (5-8) on Alumni Day.
 
After knotting the score at 1-1 in the fourth quarter, the River Hawks came into overtime aggressive on the attack. Berger almost ended the game in the 62^nd, but an incredible leaping save by Rachel Vellis extended it. However, the River Hawks did secure the golden goal just a minute later when junior Berbel Rozema (Rotterdam, Netherlands) sent a pass ahead into the circle for Berger, who made a move past the keeper for an open look to finish.
 
"It was a little frustrating in the beginning because I don't think we performed as well as we had hoped right off the bat. I thought LIU did a good job of managing us and taking away a lot of lanes, so we were having trouble outleting and keeping the ball in the attacking 25, but I love to see that Lowell grit. I think we showed up in the fourth quarter and did what we needed to do."
 
Rozema assisted on both River Hawk goals in the contest, while senior Hannah Keefe (Westford, Mass.) tallied the squad's first score of the day. Sophomore Eleonore Boekhorst (Bilthoven, Netherlands) recorded the win in the cage with three saves.
 
Defense ruled the opening quarter of action, as neither team was able to register a shot in the first 14 minutes until Emma Braeckmans broke into the circle and put an attempt from close range into the pads of Boekhorst. The visitors then received a corner chance in the last minute of the period and Sammy Bell fired hard from the top, but Boekhorst stood strong to keep the game scoreless.
 
The Sharks earned a penalty stroke in the 25^th minute and made good on the opportunity, as Emilce Paez gave her squad a 1-0 edge.
 
Coming out of the break, the River Hawk offense dominated possession, putting the only four shots on goal for either side in the third. The home team then forced four straight corners with no time on the clock to end the frame, but were unable to capitalize.
 
UMass Lowell did even the board at 1-1 in the 51^st minute, though, as an off-balance Rozema laid out to get a bouncing ball past the opposing keeper and over to Keefe for the tip in.
 
The River Hawks will now get back to America East Conference action on Friday, October 22 when they head to Maine for a 3 p.m. tilt.