LOWELL, Mass.—The UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team's late-game comeback efforts fell short Saturday afternoon, dropping a 17-11 decision to America East foe Vermont at Cushing Field. With the loss, the River Hawks drop to 3-6 (2-4 AE), while Vermont moves to a 4-4 (4-2 AE) mark.
 
Sophomore Izzy Liquori (Agawam, Mass.) extended her season-long scoring streak with a team-high four goals this afternoon. Her four-goal outing marks her sixth multi-goal game this season and was just one goal shy of matching her career-high mark. In just her third appearance for the River Hawks, freshman Emerson Laundry (Swampscott, Mass.) ranked second on the team in goals against Vermont with two, including her first ever collegiate tally.
 
Joining Laundry with career firsts, freshmen Jaime Notarangelo (Foxborough, Mass.) and Audrey Ehler (Hingham, Mass.) found the back of the cage for the first time, putting up a goal each in the second half. Ehler's goal also came during her debut as a River Hawk.
 
UMass Lowell ran out to an early 2-0 lead in the afternoon tilt off a free-position goal from sophomore Molly Shaw (Marshfield, Mass.) and a make-it-take-it goal from Liquori under two minutes in. The Catamounts quickly retaliated picking up a free-position goal of their own as well as a goal off the clear.
 
After a Vermont foul gave Liquori the free position attempt, the Massachussets native regained the lead for the River Hawks momentarily, before the Catamounts hit a five-goal scoring stride to take the 7-3 lead with 10:31 left in the first half.
 
The River Hawks capitalized on the free position opportunity once more, this time with sophomore Abby McLaughlin (Walpole, Mass.) taking the shot to briefly halt Vermont's offensive momentum. However, another five-goal unanswered streak by the Catamounts capped the first half and sent UMass Lowell to the half down, 12-4.
 
A pair of free position goals for Vermont to open the second frame pushed their margin to 14-4, before a quick goal off the draw by Liquori sparked the River Hawks' late-game comeback attempt.
 
Undeterred by a Catamounts goal to extend their lead to 15-5, Liquori found the back of the net yet again off loose ball in front of the cage. Keeping momentum in their favor, a fortuitous Vermont turnover allowed freshman Kaitlin Tobin (Southold, N.Y.) to bring the ball down field, where she found sophomore Natalie Choate (Spencerport, N.Y.) for the goal to move UMass Lowell within eight.
 
A battle for possession ensued, with the two teams trading shots as the game clock dipped below 10. Rookie goals from Notarangelo and Ehler offset a pair of Catamounts points to keep the deficit to eight heading into the final five minutes of play.
 
Back-to-back endcap goals by Laundry were not enough to capture the Catamounts, however, as the River Hawks were dealt the 17-11 loss on home turf.
 
Freshmen Mackenzie Brown (Southington, Conn.) and Jillian Schumacher (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) both saw time in the cage for the River Hawks this afternoon, making a combined nine stops. Adding some pressure on defense, sophomore Layton Nass (Manhasset, N.Y.) played a critical role for UMass Lowell, registering a team-high two caused turnovers and two ground balls.
 
Graduate student Hana Caster (North Attleboro, Mass.) continued to be an offensive spark for the River Hawks, winning a team-high seven draw controls. Additionally, Nass and Liquori were assets on the circle, winning four draw controls apiece.
 
UMass Lowell returns to Cushing Field on Saturday, April 17, to take on Albany and honor their seniors in their final home contest of the season. Opening draw is set for 7 p.m.