LOWELL, Mass. – Sophomores
Molly Shaw (Marshfield, Mass.) and
Izzy Liquori (Agawam, Mass.) combined for 11 goals as the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team (3-4, 2-2 AE) came back to beat New Hampshire (2-4, 1-3 AE) 16-14 in conference action from Cushing Field on Saturday. The win is the first for the River Hawks against the Wildcats in program history.
Shaw set a career high with seven points, including six goals. She scored four times in the second half. Liquori registered five goals with three coming in the second, as well. Classmates
Abby McLaughlin (Walpole, Mass.) and
Anna Bauter (Dexter, N.Y.) added two goals apiece. Rookie
Megan Brockbank (Bayport, N.Y.) contributed a goal and a personal-best six assists.
UMass Lowell opened the contest strong, with Bauter notching the first goal of the game, the initial shot coming just over a minute in. Though, New Hampshire looked to be turning the tables over the next couple of minutes, scoring two unanswered goals. The River Hawks didn't break a sweat, however, and fired off two-straight of their own, courtesy of Shaw.
The teams would continue to trade scores over the remaining minutes, although the visitors would use three free position opportunities in the final few minutes to equalize the score, 8-8, heading into the break.
Liquori wasted no time in the second half, scoring her third goal of the game just over a minute in. Bauter would add her second of the day with 18 left on the clock, while Shaw went on a second-half tear, rattling off four goals in a span of ten minutes. The Wildcats tallied three goals in the final ten minutes of play, but it was too late for a comeback as the River Hawks walked away victors, 16-14.
UMass Lowell led in total shots 36-28 and 25-24 on shots on goal. The Wildcats led in groundballs 18-13. The River Hawks went a perfect 12-of-12 on clear attempts and dominated on draw controls with 25 compared to just seven from the visitors.
Sophomore
Layton Nass (Manhasset, N.Y.) had a team-high two caused turnovers and three ground balls. Liquori and graduate student
Hana Caster (North Attleboro, Mass.) split their time on the draw, each tallying 11 on the day. Sophomore
Madison Grazidei (Bayport, N.Y.) stopped a season-high 10 shots in the cage.
The River Hawks will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Baltimore for a matchup with the Retrievers. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m. at UMBC Stadium.