LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Berbel Rozema (Rotterdam, Netherlands) recorded the lone goal in a 1-0 shutout victory for the UMass Lowell field hockey team (9-6, 2-5 AE) against America East opponent Vermont (10-7, 3-5 AE) on Friday.
 
"I think we had a fantastic performance against Maine last week and we talked about being consistent after that," said Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc. "That's what makes great teams is consistent performance, so for us to have this week off in preparation and then come out and perform the way we did was awesome.
 
"Possession was great today," added the veteran coach. "We had a really amazing synergy with each other with ball movement and making sure we were making the most of our opportunities. Overall, I think the dominance in possession really helped us keep the win."
 
Rozema logged a game-high five shots, including three on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Eleonore Boekhorst (Bilthoven, Netherlands) made six stops in the outing for her fifth shutout of the season.
 
The River Hawks took the first lead of the day in just the seventh minute when freshman Maxine Van Havere (Wilrijk, Netherlands) earned possession near midfield before finding Rozema with a long pass on a breakaway. The forward then went one-on-one into the circle and pulled the opposing keeper out of position to slip a ball into the lower corner, giving the home team a 1-0 edge.
 
Rozema came inches away from extending the buffer in the second quarter, as she pulled the ball out to the wing and fired a laser that rung off the post and flew wide. In the 26^th minute sophomore Alissia de Vries (The Hague, Netherlands) tested UVM's Sierra Espeland once again, but the one-goal margin would stand at the half.
 
UMass Lowell continued to dominate the ball control after the break, earning the only two corners and chances on goal for either side in the third. In the final seconds of the period, senior Jenna Berger (Waterloo, Ontario) dribbled to the end line and dished a beautiful, back-handed cross to Rozema, but her tip trickled just wide.
 
Although the visitors went on the attack in the fourth and final quarter, Boekhorst held steady with four saves to help the home team hold on for the victory.
 
The River Hawks will wrap up the regular season on Senior Day this Sunday, October 31 at 1 p.m.