River Hawks Net Golden Goal to Best Northeastern at Home

Sunday, September 5

Lowell, Mass.

6:30PM

University of Massachusetts Lowell

2-2-1, 0-0-0

Northeastern

3-2-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Northeastern	0	0	0	0
UMass Lowell	0	0	1	1

River Hawks Net Golden Goal to Best Northeastern at Home

9/5/2021 9:34:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Highlights Postgame Interview

LOWELL, Mass.—Junior captain Emily Nelson (Peabody, Mass.) struck gold in today's overtime battle, scoring the lone goal to lift the UMass Lowell women's soccer team (2-2-1) to a 1-0 decision over in-state foe Northeastern (3-2-0) Sunday night.

"It was a really tough game for both teams. Both teams competed extremely well. It was a physical game. We know each other well; we played them twice in the spring, so there weren't too many surprises," remarked Head Coach Mira Novak. "I think it could've gone either way, so I give a lot of credit to our players for pushing through, creating the chance, and winning the game in overtime."

Both teams were evenly matched in today's contest, with Northeastern taking a 7-6 edge in shots over the River Hawks. In just her second appearance in goal for UMass Lowell, freshman Lisa Sjögren (Skellefteå, Sweden) made a season-high four stops on seven shots faced.

An attack by the Huskies in the 2nd minute tested the River Hawk defense early, but Sjögren was able to stifle the offensive pressure to keep Northeastern at bay.

After a missed shot by the Huskies shifted possession in favor of the home squad, freshman forward Lærke Niklasson (Roskilde, Denmark) booted one on target but was thwarted by Northeastern's Megan Adams. Later in the half, freshman Ioanna Papatheodorou (Nea Erithraia, Greece) took her chance on goal but sent it just high to keep both teams locked at zero heading into the half.

The River Hawks took control on offense to kick off the second frame, with senior Dunja Mostarac (Belgrade, Serbia) knocking a shot just right of the goal. Northeastern got a chance in the 64th minute off a corner kick, but Sjögren made the jump to tip it up and over the net and keep the teams scoreless.

The Huskies descended on the River Hawks' goal in the 74th minute, but a quick slide by graduate student Abigail Drezek (Cumberland, R.I.) stymied the attempt. Drezek's defensive prowess struck again moments later when she knocked out a Northeastern touch to halt their momentum.

A flurry of shots marked the final minutes of regulation, but both teams were unable to capitalize, forcing the match into extra time.

The overtime period was short-lived, however, as captain Nelson fired in a shot from long range off the pass from junior Allison LeBlanc (Saugus, Mass.) to net the golden goal and earn the win.

Looking to keep the momentum forward-moving, UMass Lowell hits the road this Wednesday, Sept. 8, for a midweek battle with Bryant at 7 p.m.