LOWELL, Mass. – An early tally by sophomore Kate Miller (Cherry Hill, N.J.) was all the UMass Lowell field hockey team (3-2, 0-1 AE) would need to fend off Cal (1-3, 0-2 AE) and earn its first America East Conference victory of the season, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon.
 
"This was an outstanding performance," said Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc. "I couldn't be more proud of this team's effort. This is probably the hottest day we've had on very dry turf, and they stayed dialed in for 60 minutes and really played together as a full unit."
 
The River Hawk defense was the story of the day, as the back line withstood 12 shots from the Bears and six corners. Freshman goalkeeper Eleonore Boekhorst (Bilthoven, Netherlands) registered five saves for her third win and second shutout of the young season.
 
"We had three, first-year defenders back there and a junior in the center, and they were a force to be reckoned with," added LeBlanc. "I have to give them a lot of credit for keeping their cool when the pressure got on, but our defensive corner unit really was the player of the game for me. They defended as well as I've ever seen a UMass Lowell team defend corners under pressure, under stress with the lead. Their effort and commitment to being a unit back there was awesome and inspiring, and I'm just incredibly proud."
 
Miller put all three of her shots on cage in the outing to lead the squad. Classmate Berbel Rozema (Rotterdam, Netherlands) finished with two shots on goal to add to the effort. Senior Clara Defourt (Brussels, Belgium) picked up the assist on the lone goal, as well.
 
Neither team was able to take control of the game in the first quarter, but the River Hawks attacked in the opening seconds of the second, as Defourt sailed a reverse-stick pass across the circle for Berger, who was there to receive it and fire on target.
 
Cal made noise in the second half, managing the ball possession with five of the game's final six shots, but Boekhorst and the River Hawk defense remained steadfast. And although the Bears would pull their keeper in favor of an extra attacker in the final three minutes and earn a corner down the stretch, UMass Lowell held on for the 1-0 shutout win.
 
The River Hawks wrap up a three-game homestand on Tuesday, March 23 with a 1 p.m. tilt against UC Davis.