LOWELL, Mass. – Sophomore Kate Miller (Cherry Hill, N.J.) logged one goal and one assist for three points to pace the UMass Lowell field hockey team (2-0) in a 4-2 victory against Northeastern (1-2) on Friday afternoon.
 
The River Hawks trailed the Huskies, 2-1, at the break, but used a trio of second-half goals to earn the come-from-behind decision.
 
"It was certainly a gritty win for us," said Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc. "We struggled a little in the first half. Northeastern really put the pressure on us and made us have to think a lot. But, I thought we really came back after halftime and took control of the game with possession and good, gritty Lowell hockey."
 
Senior Clara Defourt (Brussels, Belgium), junior Jenna Berger (Oakville, Ontario) and junior Isobel Sargent (Hampton Falls, N.H.) added to the offense with one goal apiece in the win. Freshman goalkeeper Eleonore Boekhorst (Bilthoven, Netherlands) recorded three saves for her second straight victory in the cage.
 
The teams played evenly matched, trading possessions and keeping the ball in the middle of the field for the majority of the first quarter. UMass Lowell broke through the defense with a pair of chances on cage by Berger in the waning minutes, but they were both turned away by the opposing keeper to leave the game scoreless.
 
The River Hawks jumped out to the 1-0 advantage in the 22nd minute when junior Lindsey Kilpatrick (Manlius, N.Y.) sent a long pass from the corner towards the circle that slipped all the way by the defense to an open Berger in front of the cage for the one-timer on target.
 
However, the Huskies responded just over a minute later, as Mak Graves intercepted a pass in the circle, drew Boekhorst out and finished on the open cage. The visitors then converted on a direct corner to take a 2-1 buffer into halftime.
 
UMass Lowell attacked after the break, outshooting NU, 5-1, in the third quarter. The momentum shifted when the River Hawks were awarded a penalty stroke in the 38th minute and Defourt lifted a good ball up into the net, forcing a 2-2 stalemate.
 
The River Hawks scored a pair of fourth-quarter goals to lock up the outcome. Sargent tapped in a pass from Miller for what would be the game-winner in the 51st minute, and Miller finished a loose ball in a scrum with just seconds left on the clock to seal the 4-2 win.
 
UMass Lowell will now hit the road for the first time this season, visiting in-state foe Massachusetts for the annual Kennedy Cup game on Sunday, March 14.