LOWELL, Mass. – Graduate-student Katie Welch (North Reading, Mass.) scored two goals as part of a five-point outing, but the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team fell, 18-5, to UConn on Friday night at Cushing Field in the 2021 season opener.
 
"This year's process brings new challenges and opportunities," commented head coach Lisa Miller. "We played a good team that is older, practiced and gamed in. We hustled and had some great plays, but also uncovered some things we need to work on. Our goal is to take advantage of the time we have together and improve before we enter conference play."
 
UConn jumped out to an early lead after scoring two goals in the game's first five minutes. Sophomore Izzy Liquori (Agawam, Mass.) put Lowell on the board off the assist from Welch to cut the lead to one. The Huskies followed with three unanswered goals spanning the next four minutes of play.
 
Welch recorded her first goal of the day at 17:24 after she took a feed from freshman Emily Stratton (Camillus, N.Y.), putting her shot past the UConn keepers stick side. However, the Huskies ripped off four-straight to extend their lead by the halfway point of the first. 
 
Sophomore Grace Hansen (Stamford, Conn.) put an end to the run on an extra-man opportunity at 5:19 on a helper from freshman Megan Brockbank (Bayport, N.Y.). UConn responded with three goals to end the half, making it 12-3 at intermission.
 
UMass Lowell came out strong in the second half, starting with a goal by Welch after she received a pass down low to make a drive around the left side of the net.
 
The Huskies responded, yet again, sending four-straight goals over the next 10 minutes.
 
The River Hawks closed out the game with a goal by sophomore Natalie Choate (Spencerport, N.Y.) at 10:38, and the final score stood at 18-5.
 
Two River Hawks made their debut in net, freshman Jillian Schumacher (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) recorded four in the first half, while Mackenzie Brown (Southington, Conn.) saw three in the second.
 
UMass Lowell is back in action on Sunday afternoon. The River Hawks will head out for their first road contest of the season, taking on Central Connecticut at 1 p.m.